Cathal BarryNew charity laws here which require dioceses and parishes to publish financial reports will bring greater transparency to the sector, the head of an agency charged with policing the laws here has said.
Úna Ní Dhubhghaill, Chief Executive Designate of the Charities Regulatory Authority (CRA) told The Irish Catholic the new laws present a “real opportunity” to bring “increased transparency and good management practices” to Irish dioceses and parishes.
She warned, however, that “it’s important that we get it right and avoid confusion”.
Ms Ní Dhubhghaill said the CRA initially will be taking a “non-prescriptive” approach to dioceses and parishes with regard to mandatory financial reporting.
“We will take a non-prescriptive approach at first and work towards a point of compliance. That means initially we will accept reports and accounts that may not meet the standards that ultimately will be set in regulations,” she said.
The CRA, which was established last year under the terms of the Charities Act 2009, has recently published a register of Irish charities. All charities, including Catholic dioceses and parishes, have an obligation to register.
Recognising that the group of Catholic Church based charities has a “complex structure”, Ms Ní Dhubhghaill said CRA are currently in discussions with dioceses on how to best structure their registration.