Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 376: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the high frequency of requests to householders to donate second hand goods to charities, where the requesting organisation offers no address and only a mobile phone number, leaving the suspicion that they are not true charities; if he will introduce legislation that would govern the advertising by charities to ensure such appeals can be easily verified as genuine by the public; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23352/07]

Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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When the Charities Bill 2007, which is currently before this House, is enacted and commenced, charitable organisations wishing to operate in Ireland will be required to register with the proposed new Charities Regulatory Authority. The Bill also provides that registered charitable organisations must state they are so registered in all public documents or such other publications as may be prescribed by regulations. It is intended that the register will be available to the public, so people will be in a position to verify whether a particular organisation is registered. The Bill further provides that a person who holds out a body that is not registered as being a charity will be guilty of an offence punishable on conviction by a fine of up to €300,000 or 5 years in prison, or both.