Approval Of Charities Bill Heralds New Era Of Accountability For Community And Voluntary Organisations

The Wheel, a support and representative body for community andvoluntary organisations, welcomes the enactment of the Charities Bill by President, Mary McAleese on Saturday, 28 February.

“Regulation will be good for charities in that it will increase public understanding of, and confidence in, the crucial work of the more than 7000 charities operating in Ireland,” says Deirdre Garvey, Chief Executive Officer of The Wheel. “Sensitive implementation will also assist and support the boards and trustees of charities, by providing clarity about the legal framework in which they operate.”

When fully commenced, the Bill will provide comprehensive regulation for charities, with each required to register with the Charity Regulator. In addition, charities that fundraise directly from the public will be expected to comply with detailed codes or practice, which are currently being developed.

Garvey warns, however, that regulatory requirements will place additional demands on charities. “Government must now deliver on the promise it made in the national agreement, Towards 2016, to provide the additional resources that charities will require during the transition to regulation.”

There were fears in the sector when the original Bill was published, that charities might be precluded from advocating changes to Government policy where appropriate. The Wheel welcomes the fact that the enacted Bill clearly acknowledges that charities can advocate to achieve their charitable objectives.

However, The Wheel has expressed its deep disappointment at the failure of Government to take advantage of this opportunity to recognize the promotion of human rights as a charitable activity.

Research conducted by The Wheel found that 92% of Irish people agree that there should be a regulator for charities in Ireland, and that accountability and cost-effectiveness are the two main reasons why people think there should be a charity regulator.

Community and voluntary organisations are invited to access information on the Bill and their new legal obligations at www.wheel.ie.

Note to Editors

Ivan Cooper, Director of Advocacy at The Wheel is available for interview. You can reach him on 0868093083, or contact Gert Ackermann on 086 1769287 or email gert@wheel.ie.

About The Wheel

The Wheel is a leading support and representative body for community, voluntary and charitable organisations across Ireland. We provide a wide range of support services, information and training to individuals and organisations involved in community and voluntary activity The Wheels is a representative organisation in the sense that we advocate for the shared interests of our members and the wider community and voluntary sector. Our vision is of an Ireland with a vibrant and dynamic community and voluntary sector, as united as it is diverse, operating at the centre of Irish life and decision making as a necessary part of a healthy democracy. Our mission is to strengthen the community and voluntary sector, focusing on organisations that seek to create a better world.