The Charities Regulator has emphasised the importance of robust governance structures and oversight at charities following the publication of a report into the inappropriate use of charitable funds at the Gay and Lesbian Equality Network (GLEN).
Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland Chief Executive of the Charities Regulator John Farrelly said without such oversight, even the most vibrant of charities are at risk.
The investigation by the regulator found inadequate financial controls, weaknesses in oversight by trustees and the inappropriate use of charitable funds to support a political campaign.
The charity is in the process of being wound up.
Mr Farrelly said the adequate training of trustees in charities needs to be looked at but he said this is something they are working on.
He said a new panel was now in place that would be launched on 10 May with an emphasis on training trustees as a well as a new code of governance, which will be launched in September.
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For many years the charitable organisation GLEN, was to the forefront in fighting for the rights and acceptance of members of the Gay and Lesbian community in Ireland.
A year ago it emerged there had been some financial irregularities and inappropriate use of the charity's funds.
These included money being used without the board's knowledge to support its co-founder Kieran Rose's unsuccessful bid for the Seanad.
The €11,500 involved was reimbursed to the charity.
Last May, inspectors were appointed by the Charities Regulator to investigate the financial management at GLEN.
Among its findings are inadequate and inappropriate controls applied to the use of the charity's credit cards, including personal expenditure and cash withdrawals without itemised receipts or invoices.
