Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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1524. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if the Charities Regulator is empowered to enforce sanctions against charities operating in contravention of the Charities Act, such as in the case of an organisation (details supplied). [1206/18]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Under the Charities Act, 2009, the Charities Regulatory Authority is fully independent in the performance of its statutory functions. The general function of the Regulatory Authority is to regulate charitable organisations operating in Ireland, in order to increase public trust and confidence in their management and administration.

Under Section 41 of the 2009 Act, it is an offence for any person to advertise on behalf of, to invite members of the public to give money or property to, or to accept such money or property on behalf of a charitable organisation that is not registered, or for an unregistered charitable organisation to carry on such activities. In addition, it is an offence under Section 46 of the Act for a body (other than a registered charitable organisation) to describe itself or its activities in a manner that would cause a member of the public to reasonably believe that the body was a charitable organisation. An offence under the Charities Act 2009 carries with it maximum penalties on indictment of a fine not exceeding €300,000 and imprisonment for a term not exceeding 10 years.

If anybody has concerns that a charitable organisation is in breach of the Charities Act, 2009, they should forward details of these concerns to the Charities Regulator. All concerns received by the Regulator are actively reviewed.