Robert Dowds (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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79. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide an update on the Government's response to improve the reputation of the charitable sector. [21140/14]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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In order to provide for the better regulation of the charitable sector, the Government is now proceeding with the implementation of the 2009 Charities Act. Under this legislation, an independent regulatory agency for the charitable sector is being established. The Charities Regulatory Authority will have extensive functions in the registration, monitoring and oversight of the charity sector. Arrangements are underway to establish the Authority formally by Ministerial Order in October of this year. As part of this work, the first meeting of the Charities Regulatory Authority Board took place on 29 May 2014.

An early priority for the new Authority will be the preparation and publication of a statutory register of charities. All registered charities will be required to provide reports to the Authority each year on their activities and these reports will be made available to the public. This will provide a much needed increase in transparency and accountability in the charitable sector, and will support the good practice in charity governance and management that is critical to a vibrant charity sector that commands the trust and confidence of donors and beneficiaries alike. The Authority will also take on the functions of the Commissioners of Charitable Donations and Bequests for Ireland. The temporary website of the Authority is at .