Enda Kenny says Rehab must reveal salaries

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has called on Rehab to reveal the salaries of its executives and for one of his party’s chief advisers to co-operate with an Oireachtas committee’s examination of the charity.

His comments come after the appearance of Rehab CEO Angela Kerins before the Oireachtas Public Accounts Committee (PAC) where charity executives refused to reveal details about what they earn.

Mr Kenny said that all those involved in charities should answer questions about remuneration when public money is involved.

Rehab receives some €82m in state funding and employs 2,300 people in Ireland. It is the largestemployer of people with disabilities in the country.

Speaking at the party’s ard fheis in Dublin, Mr Kenny said: “We’ve said this very clearly that any agency, section 38 or section 39, which have public monies involved, should be forthcoming. The public like to know these things.”

Mr Kenny said he did not speak for the board of Rehab when it comes to whether or not Frank Flannery, a board member but no longer on staff at Rehab, should appear before PAC and answer questions.

Mr Kenny later told RTÉ’s The Week in Politics that Mr Flannery should appear before PAC if asked to.

Mr Flannery is a long-time adviser for the party and in the past has acted as director of elections.

One weekend report suggested Mr Flannery was also present in Leinster House last week, the day the committee held its hearing with Rehab.

Wheel, a network of over 900 charities, said at the weekend that Irish charities should follow international standards and reveal salaries over €70,000 in bands of €10,000.

In a recent survey it also said that 20% of charities saw a large drop in donations over Christmas and 97% of people thought recent controversies had damaged all charities.

Wheel say all large charities should immediately move to comply with the Statement of Recommended Practice for Financial Reporting by Charities (SORP), the international standard for transparency in charities.

The ard fheis also adopted a motion at the weekend calling on all charities who reveal state funding to reveal what their executives earn.

Justice Minister Alan Shatter also announced on the weekend that Úna Ní Dhubhghaill would be the first chief executive of the new Charities Regulatory Authority.