John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Cathaoirleach and Members of the House for affording me this early opportunity to return to the House on this technical matter relating to the Charities Bill 2007. I will set out briefly why it is necessary, on legal advice, to make a further amendment in the Dáil to the Government amendment originally approved by this House.

As Members might be aware, the Street and House to House Collections Act 1962, which is to be amended by the Charities Bill 2007 when enacted, applies to collections undertaken both by charities and non-charities. In framing amendments to the 1962 Act relating to collections by charities, it is important we do not impose obligations on non-charities that they cannot meet. Under the original amendment in the Seanad non-charities would have been required to have their registered number on their collection boxes. However, as only registered charities will be allocated a registered number by the new authority, it would have been impossible for non-charities to meet such a legal requirement, were it to be imposed. On the basis of legal advice, therefore, the amendment before the House will remove this obligation in the case of non-charities. In the interests of transparency, non-charities will still be required to have their name displayed on the collection boxes.

I hope this explains adequately what is a fairly straightforward technical amendment that addresses a potential anomaly that may have arisen had the original amendment stood. I commend the amendment to the House.