The Charities Act 2009 established the Charities Regulatory Authority. This body is tasked with ensuring compliance with the provisions of the Charities Act 2009. However, we more commonly refer to this body as the Charities Regulator.

The mission of the Charities Regulator is:

“To regulate the charity sector in the public interest to ensure compliance with charity law and support best practice in the governance and administration of charities.”

The Charities Regulator has several important functions, which are listed below.

  • Maintaining the register of charitable groups for Ireland.
  • Monitoring compliance by charitable groups with the provisions of the Charities Act 2009.
  • Promoting the effective use of property by charities.
  • Working to increase public trust in how charities are run.
  • Ensuring charities are accountable to donors, beneficiaries of charitable gifts and the public.
  • Carrying out investigations into how charities are governed and run.
  • Supporting better charity administration through the provision of information or advice.
  • Publishing information about charitable groups as the Charities Regulator considers appropriate.
  • Providing information to the Minister on matters relating to its functions as Charities Regulator.

Powers of the Charities Regulator

The Charities Regulator has the power to remove a charitable group from the register of charities in certain circumstances.

The Charities Regulator can direct a charity in writing to provide it with the information it requires to perform its functions. Charities must comply with such requests. Failure to comply can lead to court action being taken against the charity. This includes the issue of a warrant to search a charity’s premises and to take possession of relevant documents and records.

Where necessary, the Charities Regulator can appoint an inspector to investigate a charity. In such circumstances, trustees and their representatives must provide documents to the inspector to assist with the investigation.

Supporting Role

The Charities Regulator has been proactive in producing a series of guidance documents to help charities make effective use of their property and assets in the pursuit of their charitable purposes.

You will find a host of resources freely available to download from the Charities Regulator website at: https://www.charitiesregulator.ie/en/information-for-charities/guidance-for-charities.

In the next lesson, we review the general duties of charity trustees. Please click the Mark Complete button to proceed.