A group representing 930 charities is calling on the Justice Minister to clarify when the Charities Regulator will be in place. The Wheel says 97% of charities it surveyed believe the revelations around the CRC have damaged public trust in the sector.

CEO of the Wheel, Deirdre Garvey, says legislation allowing for the appointment of a Charities Regulator has been in place since February 2009.

And she is urging Justice Minister Alan Shatter to appoint a regulator as a matter of urgency.

Meanwhile the Social Protection Minister says the swift appointment of a Charities Regulator is imperative even if it is on an interim basis.

Joan Burton was reacting to the disclosure yesterday that the former head of the CRC Paul Kiely was paid a pension worth almost €750,000, the majority of which came from charitable donations.

Minister Burton said that most charities do sterling work, but that a regulator is needed now.