THE AID agency Concern Worldwide has welcomed the signing into law by President Mary McAleese of the controversial Charities Act 2007.
Mrs McAleese signed the Act on Saturday, following its passage through the Dáil and Seanad.
Concern chief executive Tom Arnold said the status and purpose of all genuine charitable organisations should be unambiguous, sincere and to the public benefit.
“The Bill is both necessary and welcome at a time when there is a strong public appetite for transparency and accountability,” he said.
Mr Arnold said that it was very important that the key provisions of the Act were made known to the public so that they were aware of their right to seek clarification from fundraisers about their identity, charitable status and stated purpose.
The Charities Act makes provision for a new body, the Charities Regulatory Authority (CRA) and for registration and regulation of charities. It is an offence for a person to advertise, solicit money for, or accept money on behalf of, a charity or charitable body that has not been registered by the CRA. Existing charities will have to apply for registration.
There was controversy last month when the Government amended the Bill in the Seanad making it a criminal offence to sell bogus Mass cards where the signature of the priest was not genuine and no Mass actually said.
During the debate, Senator David Norris read from an opinion provided by former attorney general John Rogers SC to a solicitor for a man who sells genuine Mass cards signed by a priest in the Philippines.
Mr Rogers’s opinion was that the provision was “an unjustified restriction on the Article 44 guarantee of the free profession and practice of religion”.
