John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Question 24: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if he will outline in more detail the reasons behind the recent announcement that the legislation to regulate charities which was initially promised by the Government for 2003 and then promised for 2005, will not be published until 2006. [22739/05]

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 37: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if draft charities legislation will be published before the end of 2005; the reason for the delay in publishing this legislation; the difficulties the absence of such legislation causes for charities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22593/05]

Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Green Party)
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Question 47: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the concern in the charities and non-governmental organisation sector at the continual delay in bringing forward the legislation to regulate charities, one year after the consultation process was completed; and if he will publish the legislation in early 2006. [22741/05]

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 58: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs his views on whether legislation is urgently needed to regulate the charities sector; if he will prioritise the publication of this legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22744/05]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 24, 37, 47 and 58 together.

I do not accept the implications in the Deputies' questions about either a delay on my part in bringing forward draft legislation to regulate the charities sector or resultant difficulties for the sector. Far from there having been a delay, it is only following the establishment of my Department in June 2002, and the setting up of a dedicated charities regulation unit in February 2003, that moves began to be taken towards regulation of the charities sector. The legislation under preparation in my Department will ensure that charities are regulated for the first time since the foundation of the State.

As regards the public consultation, it is not in accordance with the facts to say that the process was completed a year ago. As I have said previously in the House, the public consultation has been undertaken in two stages. The first took place in 2004, on the basis of a consultation paper, approved by the Government at end-2003, which set out the core legislative proposals. The second took place in 2005, on the basis of a consultation paper prepared by the Law Reform Commission, which set out proposals for the specific aspect of trustee law reform. That second public consultation concluded in April last and the outcome will be the subject of a report from the Law Reform Commission, containing recommendations for consideration by my Department.

Preparation of the draft legislation remains a priority and work is proceeding accordingly.