Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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171. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality his views on appointing an independent regulator for charities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52458/13]

Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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179. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality when he expects a charities regulatory authority to be in place; the anticipated powers of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52324/13]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 171 and 179 together.

The Charities Act 2009 provides for an integrated system of mandatory registration and proportionate regulation and supervision of the charities sector in Ireland. The various sections of the Charities Act are subject to implementation through commencement orders. Sections that it was possible to commence in advance of the establishment of the Charities Regulatory Authority, as provided for under the Act, have been commenced. The remainder will be commenced following the establishment of the Authority.

The Deputy will appreciate that the full implementation of the Charities Act, including the establishment of the Authority and Register of Charities, has resource implications that had to be examined in the context of the urgent need to reduce government expenditure. I delayed bringing this legislation into force in order to consider how best to achieve the objectives of the Act in this context. It remains an objective of the Government to strengthen the regulation of the charitable sector in effective and proportionate ways. To advance this, a public and stakeholder consultation on the implementation of the Charities Act 2009, and the establishment of a Register of Charities, was carried out by my Department earlier this year and published in July. At that time the Government also approved my plans to proceed with the establishment of an independent Charities Regulatory Authority under the terms of the 2009 Charities Act. It is envisaged that the new Authority will come into operation in 2014.

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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172. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality in view the recent events that have unfolded at the Central Remedial Clinic and taking into account that the Government is giving €4 billion to charities each year, with no one accounting for the way it is spent, his proposals to conduct an audit of all payments made to all registered charities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52465/13]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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The Charities Act 2009 is intended to increase transparency and accountability across the Charities Sector. The Act provides for new reporting requirements that will apply to charities once the Act is in force. Charities will be required to provide annual reports to the independent regulatory authority that is to be established under the Act. These reports will be made available to the public. In this way, members of the public will have access to greater information about how charities use their resources, including public donations. In July, the Government approved my plans to proceed with the establishment of the new Authority and it is envisaged that it will come into operation in 2014.