Breeda Moynihan-Cronin (Kerry South, Labour)
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Question 25: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if the date for the publication of the draft charities legislation remains the end of 2005; if any new information has been made available on his Department's webpage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5808/05]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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In June of last year, following successful completion of our public consultation on charities regulation, I gave end 2005 as the best estimate at that stage for publication of the draft legislation. While I would not like to predict with certainty that this ambitious target can still be met on the nail, I can assure the Deputy that work is proceeding as speedily as possible within my Department. A further milestone in the process was reached only last week when, on Wednesday, 16 February, I launched the Law Reform Commission's consultation paper on proposals for reform of charitable trust law.

The Law Reform Commission agreed to assist and advise my Department in addressing certain governance issues as they relate to charitable trusts. The consultation paper represents a specialist contribution towards achievement of the Government commitment to regulate the charities sector for the first time in Ireland. The intention is that the outcome of the public consultation would be available to my Department for consideration during the course of preparation of the draft legislation.

As to what new information has been made available on our charities regulation webpage, at http://www.pobail.ie/en/CharitiesRegulation/, the press release which I issued on the occasion of last week's launch can be found there; and the consultation paper itself can be accessed via the hyperlink on the webpage to the Law Reform Commission's website.