AN association aimed at regulating charities, the Fundraising Institute of Ireland, has been launched by the Minister of State for Justice, Ms Joan Burton.
The institute, founded by Ms Rita Kelly, research and development manager at Rehab, is to establish a voluntary code of ethics and professional conduct for charities and other voluntary sector organisations.
It will also provide education and training to improve standards in the voluntary sector, promote co-operation among charitable and voluntary organisations and represent the sector's interests nationally and internationally.
The institute has already started training programmes in conjunction with UCD; drawn up a voluntary code of ethics and professional conduct; organised a series of seminars for later this year; and launched a quarterly magazine, Fundraising Ireland.
Ms Burton said yesterday that accountability was the "key issue" which would be addressed in the proposed charities legislation which is her responsibility. "It is vital to assure donors that there is a mechanism by which they can clearly see the application of their contributions," she said.
