The Deputy will be aware that I have spoken on this issue already. I acknowledge the commitment of the people of Borrisokane to the new arrivals. It is not unique, as the Deputy will have seen from the case in County Clare. There are other situations around the country where people are housed in international protection accommodation on the assumption that it is temporary. I have read the letter to which the Deputy is referring and I can understand why people have been misled by the wording on it. That is deeply un…

I move amendment No. 1: In page 5, to delete lines 9 to 11 and substitute the following: “corroborated particulars of death certificates; to amend the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005, the Civil Registration (Amendment) Act 2014 and the Civil Registration Act 2019; and to provide for related matters.”. The first amendment proposes to amend the Long Title of the Civil Registration (Electronic Registration) Bill 2024 to incorporate a proposed change to the Civil Registration Act 2019. Amendment No. 6 proposes to…

I move amendment No. 2: In page 12, to delete line 16 and substitute the following: “(a) in subsection (1), by the substitution of “such required particulars of the death concerned as may be specified by an tArd-Chláraitheoir” for “the required particulars of the death concerned and that registrar shall register the death in such manner as an tArd-Chláraitheoir may direct”, (b) by the substitution of the following subsection for subsection (2):”. This group of amendments relates to the providing of required particu…

I move amendment No. 3: In page 12, to delete lines 20 to 22 and substitute the following: “(a) give the appropriate registrar a certificate containing such required particulars of the death concerned as may be specified by an tArd-Chláraitheoir, or”.

I move amendment No. 4: In page 12, between lines 32 and 33, to insert the following: “(c) by the insertion of the following subsections after subsection (2): “(2A) Upon receipt of a certificate furnished under subsection (1) or (2)(a), a registrar shall serve a notice on a person referred to in paragraph (a) or (b) of section 37(1) requiring the person— (a) to attend before a registrar within such time (not being less than 10 days after the date of the notice) as may be specified in the notice, (b) there, to give …

I move amendment No. 5: In page 16, to delete lines 17 and 18 and substitute the following: “(b) an entry in the register of deaths where subsection (3A) or (3C) of section 37 applies or where subsection (2E) of section 41 applies.”.”.

I move amendment No. 6: In page 18, after line 24, to insert the following: “PART 5 AMENDMENT OF CIVIL REGISTRATION ACT 2019 Amendment of section 6 of Civil Registration Act 2019 25. Section 6 of the Civil Registration Act 2019 is amended by the deletion of paragraph (a).”.

I move amendment No. 1: In page 17, line 28, to delete “shall, on the specified date, remove” and substitute “shall remove”. I am delighted to be here today to commence Report and Final Stages of the Charities (Amendment) Bill 2023 with officials from my Department. The purpose of the Bill is to strengthen the charity sector, ensuring greater transparency, clarity and fairness, which will serve to enhance public confidence in the sector. The charity sector plays a crucial role in connecting the wider public with op…

I move amendment No. 2: In page 19, line 16, to delete “subsection (9)” and substitute “subsection (1A) or (9)”.

I move amendment No. 3: In page 33, line 23, to delete “88D” and substitute “88C”. I want to speak to amendment No. 9 first as the remaining amendments are technical in nature. Amendment No. 9 updates Part 6A of the Bill, which relates to the entering of agreements and making of appointments by a charitable organisation. The provisions in Part 6A of the published Bill place the requirement on charities to seek the approval of the Charities Regulator to enter agreements or make appointments with relevant persons. As…

I move amendment No. 4: In page 35, to delete line 21 and substitute “Agreements and Appointments”.

I move amendment No. 5: In page 36, to delete lines 11 and 12.

I move amendment No. 6: In page 37, to delete line 12 and substitute “regulations made under subsection (7)(a).”.

I move amendment No. 7: In page 37, line 15, after “constitution,” to insert “and”.

I move amendment No. 8: In page 37, line 21, to delete “organisation, and” and substitute “organisation.”.

I move amendment No. 9: In page 37, to delete lines 22 to 32 and substitute the following: “(5) Where a charitable organisation has entered into an agreement or made an appointment in a financial year, the annual return (within the meaning of section 52) shall include a declaration that the charity trustees of the charitable organisation referred to in subsection (4)(b) are satisfied that the agreement or appointment is in the best interests of the charitable organisation. (6) Each charitable organisation shall kee…

I move amendment No. 10: In page 37, to delete lines 33 to 40, to delete page 38, and in page 39, to delete lines 1 to 7.

I move amendment No. 11: In page 39, to delete lines 8 to 22.

In closing I want to take the opportunity to record my thanks to my fellow Deputies, the Charities Regulator and all the stakeholders who have engaged with me and my officials and who have made very valuable submissions and observations as part of this wider, deliberative process. I also acknowledge the valuable assistance of officials in the Bills Office. I reiterate that the purpose of this Bill is to strengthen the charities sector, ensuring greater transparency, clarity and fairness, which will serve to enhance…

Ireland and many other European countries continue to experience a significant increase in people seeking international protection. The arrival numbers remain significantly elevated. In the first 23 weeks of 2024, more than 9,000 people arrived in Ireland seeking accommodation from the State, an average of 394 people per week. This is more than five times the average for the period 2017 to 2019. Government is working to ensure an integrated approach to communications and community engagement and to deepen the under…