The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) and the Charities Regulatory Authority (Charities Regulator) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to formalise current and future cooperation between both organisations.

The MoU signed by Phelim Quinn, CEO of HIQA, and Helen Martin, Chief Executive of the Charities Regulator, outlines the agreement between the two organisations, that their respective functions will be executed in a spirit of mutual cooperation where required and will involve ongoing consultation and engagement between the two parties in regard to their overlapping remits.

Both HIQA and the Charities Regulator have involvement with the regulation of certain charitable organisations and trusts in Ireland and have a vested interest in maintaining a high standard for service users.

HIQA is an independent statutory authority established to promote safety and quality in the provision of health and social care services for the benefit of the health and welfare of the public, established under the Health Act 2007.

The Charities Regulator was established in 2014 under the Charities Act 2009. The Act provides for the regulation of charitable organisations including through the establishment and maintenance of a public Register of Charities and the carrying out of statutory functions to ensure compliance with charity law and encourage best practice in the governance and administration of charities.

Commenting on the signing of the MoU, Mr Phelim Quinn, CEO of HIQA said: “The MoU aims to formalise working in partnership with the Charities Regulatory Authority in respect to our mutual interest in charitable organisations that may be operating as designated centres, for example. It will improve shared understanding of the landscape of charitable organisations in Ireland and our mission to maintain high quality and safety for service users.

“This MoU will allow for future cooperation between our organisations and guide us in our shared vision for protecting the health and welfare of those who may avail of social care services run by charitable organisations in Ireland. We are pleased to formalise our ongoing cooperation to date.”

Helen Martin, Chief Executive of the Charities Regulator added: “I welcome this MoU as a way of strengthening the existing relationship between the Charities Regulator and HIQA. The MoU forms the basis for our organisations to continue to work together to ensure appropriate administrative co-operation and consultation on matters which fall within our respective regulatory remits. In this way, it is envisaged that unnecessary duplication of activities can be avoided and consistency of decisions and measures can be achieved in so far as our regulatory functions in relation to charitable organisations operating in the area of health and social care overlap. ”

The full MoU is available at www.hiqa.ie and www.charitiesregulator.ie

Further information:
Marty Whelan, Head of Communications and Stakeholder Engagement, HIQA
086 244 7623, mwhelan@hiqa.ie
Heidee Kealy, Head of Communications and Stakeholder Engagement, Charities Regulator
0871015759, press@charitiesregulator.ie

Notes to Editor:
About HIQA

• HIQA is an independent statutory authority established to promote safety and quality in the provision of health and social care services for the benefit of the health and welfare of the public. HIQA’s mandate to date extends across a wide range of public, private and voluntary sector services.
• HIQA regulates and sets standards for a broad range of health and social services, conducts health technology assessments and advises on the effective use of health information. HIQA is also the lead partner on the National Patient Experience Survey and the National Maternity Experience Survey

About the Charities Regulator
The Charities Regulatory Authority was established on 16 October 2014 and is responsible for the regulation and protection of charitable trusts and organisations (charities).

It has a number of general functions under the Charities Act 2009 which include –

• Increase public trust and confidence in the management and administration of charities;
• Promote compliance by charity trustees with their duties in the control and management of charities;
• Ensure the accountability of charities to donors and beneficiaries of charitable gifts, and the public;
• Establish and maintain a register of charities;
• Ensure and monitor compliance by charities with the Charities Act 2009;
• Carry out investigations in accordance with the Act;
• Carry on such activities or publish such information (including statistical information) concerning charities and charitable trusts as it considers appropriate;