Northern Ireland Charity Commission on its way
4th July 2008, 10:45 am
The Charities Bill for Northern Ireland completed its progress through the Assembly on Monday (30th June).
In a remarkably short Final Stage debate, the Minister for Social Development Margaret Ritchie said that she hoped to be able to announce the names of the new charity commissioners (up to 5) by the end of October, with adverts in early July. She also wants the commission to be up and running by the end of the year and restated a commitment to locate the organisation outside the greater Belfast area, with a staff of up to 16, including a chief executive, based on comparison with the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator.
However, Ms Ritchie warned that it would take some time to get the necessary subordinate legislation and other mechanisms in place to implement all aspects of the legislation. http://www.niassembly.gov.uk/record/reports2007/080630.htm#6.