At present there is no register for charities in Northern Ireland. The current system means that there is a lack of transparency, potentially leading to a loss of public confidence.
Now as a result of the first piece of Northern Ireland legislation to go through the Assembly, there will be for the first time:
- a clear definition of what is a charity,
- a register of all charities operating in Northern Ireland,
- a test of what is and isn’t a charity, and
- a charity regulator – the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland.
This new body will have considerable powers under the act to regulate, monitor and where required investigate charities.
The new Chief Commissioner who will chair the Commission is Mr Thomas McGrath, former chair of the Northern Ireland Tourist Board. Ms Patricia Sloan, Director of BBC Children In Need, has been appointed Deputy Chief Commissioner while Mr Paul Cavanagh, Ms Angela Chada, Mr Philip McDonagh and Mr Walter Rader have been appointed as Charity Commissioners.
Speaking at the launch in Barnardo’s in Belfast, Margaret Ritchie described it as a red letter day for all charities. She said: "I would like to congratulate charities in Northern Ireland for the sterling work they do, often for very vulnerable people. But the system needs tightened up and overhauled. We need leadership. We need regulation. We need the public to be assured that the money they give is going to where it should go. The Commissioners bring with them an array of skills and experience in the statutory, private and charitable sectors and I am confident that they can make a valuable contribution.
“In Northern Ireland we have to date been out of step compared to Britain in that we have not had a charity commission. We have had what at best could be described as light touch regulation. I have sought to change this and to provide reassurance and confidence for charities and for the giving public.”
The Minister set out the role of the Commission in regulating and working with local charities.
She said: “This new body will have considerable powers under the act to regulate, monitor and where required, investigate charities. It will importantly seek to support and encourage charities in the more effective and efficient use of resources, to improve governance and to encourage people to give to charitable purposes.”
Tom McGrath the newly appointed Chief Commissioner said: “The set up of any body is a demanding task but there is an added responsibility here in that we are working with the charitable sector who play a huge role in providing invaluable services to some of the most needy in our communities. As Charity Commissioners we must seek to fulfil our role as a regulatory body but we must not hinder the work of charities. Rather we should where possible seek to encourage and support that work within the context of our legal responsibilities.”
Notes to Editors:
1. The appointments have been made in accordance with the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments for Northern Ireland Code of Practice. All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process. However, in accordance with the original Nolan recommendations, details of any political activity of appointees (if any declared) have been published.
2. The Charity Commission for Northern Ireland (CCNI) is a Non-Departmental Public Body (NDPB), funded by grant-in-aid from the Department for Social Development (DSD). It was established under the Charities Act (NI) 2008 and became operational on 27 March 2009 through (Commencement No. 1) Order (Northern Ireland) 2009.
3. Its mission is to introduce a regulatory framework for the charitable sector in Northern Ireland, in line with developments in the rest of the UK and Ireland. This will provide a structure and process through which charities can demonstrate their contribution to society, the public can be assured regarding how charities are spending any donations and government can assist in the better governance of the charity sector.
4. The Charity Commission will comprise of a Chief Commissioner, a Deputy Chief Commissioner and up to five Charity Commissioners, one of whom must be a barrister or solicitor of at least seven years standing. The Chief Commissioner and Deputy Chief Commissioner have been appointed for five years and the other Commissioners for three years. A legally qualified Commissioner has not yet been appointed.
5. The appointments will take effect from 1 June 2009 and Commissioners will receive remuneration. The Chief Commissioner will receive £5,000 per annum, Deputy Chief Commissioner £3,000 per annum and the other Commissioners £2,000 per annum. Expenses will be paid in line with normal NICS guidelines.
6. APPOINTEES
Mr. Thomas McGrath (Chief Commissioner)
Mr. McGrath worked as Regional Director for Marsh Ltd for 34 years. He was previously Chair of the NI Tourist Board (2003-2008), the NI Business Education Partnership (2004-2006) and the George Best Memorial Trust (2006-2007). He served as a Board member of Tourism Ireland (2003-2008) and the Probation Board NI (2000-2003). He was Director of the Ireland Funds (1998-2007) and previously served as a Committee Member of Princes Youth Trust and NSPCC Special Appeal.
He does not hold any other public appointments and has not undertaken any political activity in the last five years.
Ms Patricia (Paddy) Sloan (Deputy Chief Commissioner)
Ms Sloan is currently National Head of BBC Children in Need in NI and was previously Chief Executive of the NI Human Rights Commission. She serves as a Board Member of the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust (Ireland Committee) and Community Evaluation NI. She was previously Treasurer of the Committee on the Administration of Justice and the NI Play Development Association.
She does not hold any other public appointments and has not undertaken any political activity in the last five years.
Mr. Paul Cavanagh (Commissioner)
Mr Cavanagh is currently employed in the health service and previously worked for Save the Children, Gingerbread and the North West Community Network. He is Chair of Derry Local Strategy Partnership and serves as Committee Member of the NI Big Lottery Fund and Ofcom NI Advisory Committee. He was previously a Board Member of the Community Fund, Volunteer Development Agency and Derry Healthy Cities and a member of the Government Task Force on Resourcing the Voluntary & Community Sector.
He does not hold any other public appointments and has not undertaken any political activity in the last five years.
Ms Angela Chada (Commissioner)
Ms Chada is an Executive Director of Springboard and Board Member of Intercomm. She serves as a member of Belfast City Council’s Migrant Forum, Ethnic Minorities Forum and Good Relations Partnership. She was previously Director of the Success Foundation and the Ex Prisoners Interpretative Centre (EPIC). She also served as a member of the Greater Shankill Partnership Training & Economic Development Committee, Shankill Community Forum and Shankill Womens’ Forum.
She does not hold any other public appointments and has not undertaken any political activity in the last five years.
Mr Philip McDonagh (Commissioner)
Mr McDonagh will shortly retire as a senior management consultant and chief economist with PricewaterhouseCoopers. He is a member of the NI Statistics Advisory Committee and was previously a member of the Board of Visitors, Belfast Prison and Trustee of the Community Foundation for Northern Ireland. He currently serves as Treasurer of Quaker House Belfast.
He does not hold any other public appointments and has not undertaken any political activity in the last five years.
Mr. Walter Rader (Commissioner)
Mr Rader is currently Chief Executive of the Big Lottery Fund in Northern Ireland. He is a Member of the NI Funders Forum and has previously held positions on the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Ministerial Advisory Committee, the Review of Youth Services Policy in the Department of Education and the Youth Council for NI. He was previously Chair of the Police Community Relations Branch Review Panel and Honorary Secretary of the Princes Trust NI.
He does not hold any other public appointments and has not undertaken any political activity in the last five years.
7. For media enquiries please contact the DSD Press Office, tel 028 9082 9079 or contact Philip Maguire on 07788 108 657. Out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.
