Charities Regulator seeks public opinion on governance of charities

The Charities Regulator, which maintains a public register of charitable organisations operating in Ireland and ensures their compliance with the Charities Acts, is seeking the opinion of the general public and anyone who has an interest in Irish charities on how charities should be governed.

The Regulator wants the views of the public, charities, their trustees, staff, volunteers, service users, donors and funders.

In February, the Regulator established a panel to consider how the administration and management of charities can be improved and make recommendations to the Regulator on the development and implementation of governance guidelines, codes of conduct or regulations. As part of this process, the panel is seeking to consult the public and other stakeholders on issues such as governance responsibility, monitoring, governance code and guidelines.  

It is running an online questionnaire and a series of public meetings, and is also accepting written submissions, in order to give the public the opportunity to make their views known. The meetings will consist of a short presentation by the Charities Regulator’s Chief Executive John Farrelly followed by consultation with audience members. 

Among the questions raised will be:                                            

  • Is there a need for a governance code specific to all registered Irish charities operating in the State?
  • Should these governance standards apply differently for small, medium and large charities?
  • Should there be reasonable checks on a person’s suitability to be a charity trustee?
  • Should there be a maximum term allowable for charity trustees?

Click here for the online questionnaire, which will be available to complete until 5pm on 6 December 2017.

Click here to register to attend the upcoming public meeting in Dublin on Tuesday 21 November, O’Callaghan Alexander Hotel, 41-47 Fenian Street, Dublin 2, 7-9pm.

Written submissions can be sent via email it to governancepanel@charitiesregulator.ie or posted to ‘Consultative Panel on Governance of Charitable Organisations, 3 Georges Dock, IFSC, Dublin 1, D01 X5X0’. The closing date for submissions will be close of business on 6 December.

 

 

Share

Resources

Sustaining Partners