Charity regulation laws put on the back-burner

LONG-AWAITED legislation designed to regulate charities has been put back to spring of next year, it was confirmed yesterday.

The news follows revelations that up to €60,000 had been taken from the Christina Noble Children's Foundation (CNCF) in suspected fraud.

The Charities Regulation Bill which has been in gestation for a number of years was due to be published this year.

But the Government yesterday said the legislation would not now be brought before the Dáil until next year.

"We're working on it as best we can," said Minister of State for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Noel Ahern. "It's difficult to give an accurate date, but possibly next spring it should be published."

Fine Gael spokesperson for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs Dinny McGinley said the delay was "inexcusable", and that there were reports calling for regulations going back to 1990.

A garda source yesterday said the legislation had been "in gestation for a number of years".

Mr Ahern accepted there was no regulation of charities and said it had been that way since the foundation of the state.

"I'm not saying the situation is perfect. Various people and various reports have signalled what needs to be done. We are doing it now. Most charities are great bodies [that] are doing great work, but the potential for huge abuse is there."

He said the bill was quite complex and had required detailed consultation.