PROPOSED controls on fund raising were announced yesterday as the Minister of State for Justice, Ms Joan Burton, introduced the report of an advisory group on charities/fund raising legislation.
Recommendations include setting up an authority responsible for the registration of fund raising organisations, registration for all organisations (except political parties) and professional fundraisers soliciting funds from the public or from funding agencies.
In addition, the Minister for Justice should be empowered to specify, by regulation, the standard of accounting required of registered charities.
There should be changes in the procedures for authorising collections and lotteries and the limit on prizes in periodical lotteries, such as scratch cards, should be removed, a proposal welcomed by Rehab.
The report will be referred to the Dail Select Committee on Legislation and Security which will meet in January.