Charity regulation begins at home

Friday’s announcement that the new Independent Charities Regulator was to be established is welcomed by most charities, including Concern, which has long advocated tighter regulations.

In the last six weeks there has been an unprecedented destruction of confidence in Irish charities.

All stakeholders must rebuild this trust: funders, the public, and the media must continue to be inquisitive of fundraising and of organisations in receipt of state grants. Charities need to be transparent and should not wait until the formal establishment of the regulator’s office to become more accountable.