The implementation of the new regulatory structure for charities in Northern Ireland is facing severe delays, after a technical issue with the legislation emerged which may require it to go back through the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Speaking at the Association of Charity Independent Examiners’ annual conference last week, Frances McCandless (pictured), chief executive of the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland (CCNI), said the length of the delay would be dependent upon how quickly the new legislation could be put through, but warned: “It's unlikely we will open for registration in this calendar year, so that will knock back the timescale for the rest of the implementation.”

CCNI had planned to begin taking applications for charitable status this month, but now all plans have been put on hold, with McCandless saying that until the problem can be sorted, “nothing is happening”.

She also said that the Commission was attempting to come up with a way to avoid resubmitting the legislation, and that it is “hoping to at least start a consultation on the format of the annual accounts this year.”

A spokesman for CCNI said the regulator was not able to comment on the nature of the technicality at this stage.