Irish theologian attacks philanthropists

Howard Lake | 14 October 2007 | News

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• Ireland

A leading Irish theologian has criticised philanthropists in Ireland who make major charitable donations but remain outside the country to avoid paying tax. The remarks were made by Fr Enda McDonagh in an open letter to the Catholic Primate in the religious publication, the Furrow.

Fr McDonagh, former professor of moral theology at St Patrick’s College, Maynooth, said the refusal to pay taxes in Ireland was an indication of where their priorities lie ‘however how many named gifts they offer to prestigious charities and institutions.’

Fr McDonagh said that in a fair society justice comes before charity and is the necessary precondition of authentic charity. His comments are thought to refer to some very high profile Irish donors from Ireland who make major contributions to educational and medical causes but are based outside Ireland to avoid paying tax in the country. Irish tax law allows them to maintain a base in Ireland but restricts the number of days they can spend in the country.

About Howard Lake
Howard Lake is consultant editor of UK Fundraising. He founded the site in 1994 and successfully sold it in 2022. As director of Giving X Ltd he is exploring growing giving on a massive scale. He is the founder of Fundraising Camp and co-founder of GoodJobs.