A GROUP OF Labour senators is planning to table a Private Members Motion this week calling for the full implementation of the 2009 Charities Act.
Labour senator John Whelan has indicated that the 7,800 registered charities in Ireland receive around €6 billion in donations, grants and State funding annually, but that hundreds of millions are unaccounted for.
He’s calling for increased transparency, regulation and compliance with best international practice.
The Charities Act was deferred earlier this year for expenditure reasons. The legislation would require charities to make their financial information public.
John Whelan said that it is ‘no longer acceptable’ that the Justice Department and the Government continue to procrastinate, and argues that its enforcement would actually save the State money.
Hans Zomer, who’s the director of charity umbrella group Dóchas has lobbied the government for regulation of the sector and wrote to Oireachtas members asking for movement on implementation of the Charities Act.
The Private Members Motion will be tabled by Labour senators on Wednesday.
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