Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 15 Dec 1998

Vol. 498 No. 4

Written Answers. - Irish Red Cross Society.

Pat Rabbitte

Question:

159 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Defence the criteria applied by the Government in regard to the selection of nominees to the central council of the Irish Red Cross Society; if the Government monitors the conduct of its nominees; to whom the nominees report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27509/98]

Pat Rabbitte

Question:

161 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Defence if there is a staff representative on the executive committee of the Irish Red Cross Society; if not, the plans, if any he has to provide for a representative; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27511/98]

Pat Rabbitte

Question:

162 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Defence if his attention has been drawn to reports of serious industrial relations problems within the Irish Red Cross Society; the plans, if any, he has to take any action to try to secure a settlement of these problems; if he will encourage the society to avail of all the appropriate industrial relations bodies to seek a settlement of these issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27512/98]

Minister for Defence (Mr. M. Smith)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 159, 161 and 162 together.

The Government carefully considers and nominates persons to the central council of the Irish Red Cross Society who it deems will make a positive contribution to the affairs of the society.

The society is an autonomous body with full powers to manage and administer its affairs through its governing body, the central council. In this regard I am not aware of any particular difficulties regarding the conduct and participation of central council members in the affairs of the society. Council meetings are normally held twice a year and I understand a satisfactory and productive meeting was held on Saturday, 5 December 1998.

The executive committee of the Irish Red Cross Soceity is elected by the members of the central council. As the society is an autonomous body, the election and composition of the executive committee is a matter for the society. The executive committee is tasked by the council to manage the day-to-day affairs of the society on its behalf.

Any industrial relations problems pertaining to the staff of the society are a matter for the society.

Pat Rabbitte

Question:

160 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Defence the amount received in 1998 by the Irish Red Cross Society in grant-in-aid; the amount of this allocated to salaries; if any of the grant-in-aid has been used in regard to legal costs incurred by the society and its acting general secretary in a case taken by the former general secretary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27510/98]

Minister for Defence (Mr. M. Smith)

The total grant-in-aid provided for the society for 1998 is £535,000. The amount provided for headquarters staff salaries for the current year is £375,000. No funds have been paid in respect of legal fees incurred by the society and no such fees are deemed payable under the grant-in-aid to the society.