News Diary Update: The National Charity Summit

UPDATED: THE NATIONAL CHARITY SUMMIT - THURSDAY, 23 MAY, CROKE PARK

WHAT: The Wheel's National Charity Summit is Ireland's largest annual gathering for the charity sector. It is a focal point for a sector that generates a combined annual turnover of €12bn and supports employment for 289,197 people. The aim of the day-long event is to discuss and debate some of the most pressing issues for the charity sector.

An Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar TD will deliver a special address at 4.30pm.

WHO: 400 delegates representing Ireland's leading charities, policymakers, funders, volunteers etc.

Thirty speakers, including:

Helen Martin, Charities Regulator

Flynn, CEO of the Rehab Group

Kevin McCarthy, Secretary General at the Department of Rural and Community Development

Dr Sean Healy, Director of Social Justice Ireland

Averil Power, CEO of the Irish Cancer Society

Liam Herrick, Executive Director of Irish Council for Civil Liberties

Colm O' Gorman, Executive Director of Amnesty International

John Devitt, Chief Executive of Transparency Ireland

Blackwell, a human rights lawyer and Chief Executive of the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre

WHEN: Thursday, 23 May 2019, 10am-5.30pm

WHERE: Croke Park Conference Centre (Hogan Suite)

WHY: Ireland's charity sector will gather to discuss a number of pressing issues:

Three New Government Policies for the Charity Sector: Three interrelated policies currently being finalised by the government on community development, volunteering and social enterprise. The Wheel will be issuing a statement on this "once in a generation opportunity" for the nonprofit sector. Hear from An Taoiseach, Kevin McCarthy, Secretary General at the Department of Rural and Community Development and others.

Rehab and the Charity Funding Crisis: It was announced yesterday that the HSE will provide an additional €2million to the Rehab Group to fund services. On 7 May, the Rehab Group informed the HSE of its intention to terminate RehabCare’s contracts unless further funding of €2 million per annum is urgently provided to address substantial deficits in the services it delivers to more than 3,000 vulnerable adults and children with physical, intellectual and sensory disabilities, in communities across the country. The charity says without more funding, it is not financially viable. How are other charities affected by the issues Rehab raised? Is there more to come? Hear from Mo Flynn, CEO of the Rehab Group and other leading charities.

Elections and Lobbying: Last week, Senator Lynn Ruane has tabled a bill to reform the Electoral Acts and protect the Advocacy work of nonprofits. Last year, SIPO ordered Amnesty International Ireland to return a donation it received from an international foundation. There are serious concerns that electoral processes are being undermined by social media manipulation and by unaccountable money. How can we ensure that initiatives designed to protect our electoral system – such as the Electoral Acts, and proposals to regulate political advertising – don’t undermine civil society's voice? How can a balance be struck that ensures electoral processes are free from interference and manipulation by unaccountable forces and ensures the freedom to advocate? Hear from Colm O'Gorman (Amnesty International Liam Herrick (Irish Council of Civil Liberties), John Devitt (Transparency International) and others.

Social Enterprise: The Department of Rural and Community Development will shortly publish a new national strategy for the development of social enterprises. Hear more from Andrew Forde (Department of Rural & Community Development,) Aoibheann O' Brien of (Food Cloud) and Deirdre Mortell (The Social Innovation Fund Ireland) and more.

The Wheel, Ireland's national association of charities, community and voluntary organisations and social enterprises will be celebrating its 20th anniversary at The Summit. Come and find out how Ireland's charity sector has changed in the past two decades and what the future holds for Irelands circa 29,000 nonprofit

HOW: Media welcome to attend. Interview and photo opportunities available on the day.
Call Gert Ackermann on 086 176 9287 or email gert@wheel.ie for accreditation.

The Wheel is Ireland’s national association of community and voluntary charities and social enterprises. We are a representative voice and a supportive resource that offers leadership, advice, training, influence and advocacy for the sector. With nearly 1,600 members, The Wheel is the largest representative body for the charity sector. Visit www.wheel.ie for more information.