Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

340. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she engaged with the Charities Regulator in respect of an NGO (details supplied); and if so, if she will outline the nature of those engagements. [55919/22]

Joe O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

While my Department has been assigned overall policy responsibility for the Charities Regulator, the Regulator is fully independent in the performance of its statutory functions under Section 14 (3) of the Charities Act 2009.

Consequently, it is inappropriate for me, or Department officials, to enter into specific discussions with the Charities Regulator concerning any individual organisation.

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

341. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will provide a schedule of the NGOs and charities that have been closed down and sanctioned by the Charities Regulator in each of the years 2020, 2021 and to date in 2022, including the reason for the closure order and-or sanction imposed, and the name of the NGO and or charity. [55920/22]

Joe O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Charities Regulatory Authority (the ‘Charities Regulator’) was established in October 2014 pursuant to the Charities Act 2009. The Authority is the State organisation responsible for registering and regulating all of Ireland’s charities, with the mandate to promote good governance practice.

My Department has been assigned responsibility for the Charities Regulator. It is important to note however, that the Regulator is fully independent in the performance of its statutory functions, including investigations into the activities and conduct of charities.

The Charities Regulator operates under the auspices of the Charities Act 2009, and as such is only mandated to deal with charities. The Charities Regulator therefore only regulates NGOs that are charitable organisations.

The Charities Act 2009 does not contain any provisions that allows the Charities Regulator to sanction a charitable organisation by imposing a “closure order”.

In the period 2020, 2021 and 2022 to date, the list of charities which have had an intermediate sanction imposed under section 73 of the Charities Act 2009 is as follows:

- 17/02/2021 – Waterford Area Partnership CLG – Registered Charity Number 20035228

In the period 2020, 2021 and 2022 to date, the Charities Regulator petitioned the High Court pursuant to section 569(1)(e) of the Companies Act 2014 for the winding up of the following charities:

- 07/10/2021 – North Inner City Homeless Limited T/A Inner City Helping Homeless – Registered Charity Number 20101848

In the period 2020, 2021 and 2022 to date, the Charities Regulator has exercised its power under section 64 of the Charities Act 2009 to appoint inspectors to investigate the affairs of a charitable organisation and to prepare a report thereon in such manner as the Charities Regulator shall direct, in relation to the following charities:

- 02/04/2020 – Cabhru Hosing Association Services – Registered Charity Number 20008543 – final report published on 28/07/2021

- 29/04/2020 – ChildFund Ireland – Registered Charity Number 20032913 – final report published on 29/06/2021

- 06/10/2020 – Bóthar – Registered Charity Number 20026592 – statutory investigation paused at request of An Garda Síochána as a criminal investigation is underway

- 26/08/2021 – Irish Wildbird Conservancy T/A Birdwatch Ireland – Registered Charity Number 2008963 - final report published on 9/11/2022

- 15/10/2021 – North Inner City Homeless Limited T/A Inner City Helping Homeless – Registered Charity Number 20101848

- 07/02/2022 – Irish Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals – Registered Charity Number 20008734

- 03/03/2022 – Navan Mental Health Housing Association Limited – Registered Charity Number 20047023 - statutory investigation paused at request of An Garda Síochána as a criminal investigation is underway