# Charity 'czar' likely in new charities bill

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2006/03/13/charity-039czar039-likely-new-charities-bill/
- Published: 2006-03-13T00:00:00+00:00
- Author: Howard Lake

A charities regulator with powers to investigate and prosecute charities accused
of misconduct will be appointed under new Irish government plans to overhaul the
charitable sector, according to press reports. The Charities Regulation Bill 2006
will be published shortly. 
The Bill will give powers to enter premises, remove 
charity trustees and freeze assets of charities which do not comply with the legislation.
It would also contain measures to oblige charities to file annual returns on fundraising
activities or risk being ‘named and shamed’ by the regulator.

 

 

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In addition, ‘chuggers’ who approach people in the street asking them to sign up
and make donations will need a permit for such activities in the future.

 

 

The Irish Charities Tax Reform Group, which represents over 150 of Ireland’s leading
charities, welcomed the moves.

 

 

Chairman Richard Dixon said: “The charity sector in Ireland has been calling for
a regulator to oversee its work and support its development for the past 20 years.
The announcement is a hugely positive step in the right direction.”

 

 

At present, groups raising money for or on behalf of charities have no legal obligation
to declare how much they collect or where the money is spent. A new register of 
charities would be accessible to the public but the identity of donors could be 
withheld.

 

 

There are over 6000 charities in the Irish Republic and this will be the first piece
of legislation regulating the sector in 30 years.

 

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