As the next two items relating to the Irish Red Cross Society are being taken together, each Deputy will have five minutes and the Minister will have ten minutes.
Adjournment Debate. - Irish Red Cross Society.
The Irish Red Cross Society has traditionally enjoyed a worldwide reputation for its hard work and the dedicated commitment of its paid and voluntary staff in their efforts to help tackle emergencies throughout the world. Despite the current difficulties in that organisation, I pay tribute to all who have contributed to that reputation and to the work of the organisation over many years.
The Irish Red Cross has always been to the forefront in bringing aid to the scenes of natural disasters. It is a unique organisation in that it has the President of Ireland as its president. Consequently, everything it does and the way it is run should be above reproach. Recent reports of unrest and low morale among the staff at its Merrion Square headquarters have caused dismay and unease among the public. This was brought to a head in the past 24 hours when, in an unprecedented move, nine of the 14 permanent staff felt obliged to go on national television to highlight the problems in Merrion Square in the interest of the common good of the organisation.
One of the concerns voiced by the staff was that the organisation is too slow in releasing funds raised for emergencies. This is a serious allegation which necessitates urgent investigation. In addition, a number of people – the chief executive, public relations officer, youth officer and fundraising officer – have left the organisation. A sum of £100,000 has also been spent in an unsuccessful attempt to defend its decision in the courts to expel one central council member for talking to a national newspaper. One lifelong member of the organisation is quoted in The Irish Times today as having said that the Red Cross has lost its way.
The people of Ireland, who generously donated more than £3 million to the Red Cross this year following its Kosovo and Turkey appeals, have been left without answers. That is not good enough. The organisation also receives a grant-in-aid of almost £600,000 from the Exchequer. I wish to put the following questions to the Minister. Are new structures needed in this organisation, whose current structures are unique in Europe? Are extra resources needed to ensure that the current internal review is effective and deals effectively with the problems outlined by the staff or is now the time for an independent inquiry into the running of the Irish Red Cross by appropriate independent people from the world of finance and management who would be asked to make a series of recommendations on how the organisation should be run and on the changes considered necessary?
It is vital to have a structure that will restore public confidence and the confidence of the staff in the running of this valuable national organisation. It has done us proud in the past and many people have contributed to its work. It is important that a fresh look is taken at the organisational structure and that new structures are put in place to ensure there is no repeat of what we heard and saw on the airwaves in the past two days.
I thank the Ceann Comhairle and the Minister for taking this important matter this evening. The Red Cross is one of the most honoured and respected organisations in the world. In every part of the world the flag of the Red Cross or, in the Muslim world, of the Red Crescent is recognised as a symbol of honour, decency and impartiality. It is probably the longest serving humanitarian organisation and since its establishment in 1863 its representatives have been found in every war and trouble spot, working to protect the innocent, and in the aftermath of disasters, trying to bring relief to victims. Its role is formally recognised under various international conventions, particularly in regard to the protection of prisoners of war.
The Irish Red Cross has existed for more than 60 years. It draws on up to 13,000 voluntary members to provide a range of services at home and to raise funds for relief abroad. Until recently, it was the key organisation dealing with asylum seekers and refugees here. Given this proud history, few people will not have been saddened by the events that have caused such damage and disruption to the Irish Red Cross and which threaten to tear it apart if they are not dealt with.
I will not pass judgment on who bears ultimate responsibility for the current lamentable state of affairs in the Irish Red Cross. However, there is an obligation on the Minister for Defence, as the responsible Minister, to take action to ensure that the problems in this organisation are addressed and that it returns to concentrating on the humanitarian work it does so well. The problems in the Irish Red Cross have existed for some time and were previously brought to the attention of the Minister. They have also received extensive coverage in the press.
As long ago as last December my colleague, Deputy Rabbitte, tabled a series of questions to the Minister, Deputy Smith, drawing attention to the ongoing industrial relations difficulties that were, even at that stage, developing into a serious problem. The questions asked what steps the Minister would take to secure a settlement of the problems and what steps were taken to monitor the Government's nominees to the central council. In his reply, the Minister washed his hands of the problems by saying the society was an autonomous body with full powers to manage and administer its affairs. Another question put down by my party leader, Deputy Quinn, was answered by the Minister yesterday in almost identical terms.
A hands off approach is not satisfactory. The Irish Red Cross is unlike any other voluntary organisation. It was established under an Act of the Oireachtas and was given a range of statutory duties and roles under various other Acts. Its patron is the President of Ireland and each year it receives a substantial amount of public funding. This year that funding amounted to £600,000.
Something is seriously wrong when an organisation such as the Red Cross loses, in a relatively short period, almost half its senior staff including the secretary general, public relations officer, youth director, fundraiser and a clerical officer; when the financial officer is dismissed, allegedly over a trivial matter, and the case ends up in the Labour Court; when the society is plagued by ongoing industrial relations problems and when more than half the permanent staff of the society are sufficiently concerned to break with all traditions and to call publicly for an independent inquiry into the management of the society. The demands of the staff appear reasonable. They seek an independent inquiry into the management of the society based on the guidelines for the governance of Red Cross societies drawn up by the Red Cross headquarters in Geneva.
Section 2 of the Red Cross Act, 1938 states:
The Government may by the establishment order make provision in relation to all or any of the following matters, that is to say:
(a)the powers of the Society;
(b)the organisation of the Society;
(c)the management and administration of the affairs of the society by a governing body.
I call on the Minister to exercise the powers available to him under the Act to initiate a thorough investigation into all matters of concern in the organisation of the Irish Red Cross.
I welcome the opportunity to clarify the present position regarding the Irish Red Cross Society by replying to this matter raised by Deputies Fitzgerald and Wall.
The International Red Cross Society is one of the world's largest humanitarian organisations with a global membership estimated at 150 million people through its network of national societies in 161 countries. The Irish Red Cross Society was established by an Act of the Oireachtas on 1 August 1939. The inaugural meeting of the gov erning body of the society, that is, the central council, was held in Dublin on 5 September 1939. The central council comprises one representative from each area together with Government nominees, who may not number less than one third of the total membership. The President of Ireland, by virtue of her office, is president of the Irish Red Cross Society.
The central council meets twice a year to formulate policy. In between meetings, its powers are delegated to an executive committee of 12, elected from its members, and also to various sub-committees. The professional staff, headed by the secretary general of the society, are responsible for delivering the programmes of the society. The staff, via the secretary general, are responsible directly to the executive committee.
The current chairman of the society is Mr. Richie Ryan, a former Minister for Finance. All members, both elected and nominated, generally serve for a three year period although the three year periods of each group do not run concurrently. Sixteen Government nominees were appointed on 1 May 1997 by the then Government. Their term of office expires on 30 April 2000. A senior civil servant from my Department has traditionally been nominated by the Government as a member of the central council to provide advice and assistance.
My Department administers a grant-in-aid to the Irish Red Cross Society, which this year amounts to £575,000. The grant-in-aid mainly covers the salaries of 14 permanent staff in the headquarters of the society based in Merrion Square, Dublin 2, and the annual grant for the International Committee of the Red Cross in Geneva. Additional staff are employed on a temporary basis under FÁS or social employment schemes. The society's accounts are audited by a duly qualified auditor appointed by the central council of the society and are open to inspection by the Comptroller and Auditor General. The audited accounts were last requested by the Comptroller and Auditor General in 1998.
I am advised there has been a long history of disharmony and industrial relations problems between the staff of the society and management. A new secretary general was recruited by the society earlier in the year. One of the first tasks undertaken by him was a strategic review of the operation of the society.
I am advised the review will encompass the view and opinions of all organs of the society to ensure the strengthening and survival of the society well into the next millennium. I understand this review to be totally inclusive, involving all staff members and volunteers. The Red Cross is being assisted by a consultant in these matters. The report will provide for a work plan and address the problems of industrial relations within the society. I am informed that discussions have already taken place with the appropriate union with regard to this review, which it is intended to be completed by mid-2000.
I am confident that the constructive views and comments of all personnel involved in the society, be they permanent staff or volunteers, will be made available so that the aims and objectives of the society can be fulfilled in an efficient and effective manner, having regard to the value for money principles. It may transpire that legislative changes may be required and my Department will respond as required in this regard.
As I indicated in reply to Question No. 122 yesterday, I have no function in the administration of the Red Cross Society. I do not get involved in the day to day running of its affairs. The society is an autonomous body with full powers to manage and administer its affairs through its governing body, the central council. I am also mindful that a fundamental principle of the International Committee of the Red Cross is that all Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies enjoy freedom from political involvement worldwide. The call for an investigation or inquiry is, therefore, not a matter for my attention. My Department, as in the past, is available to provide help and assistance to the society as an when requested.
I am confident that the problems being experienced currently in the society will be addressed adequately within the terms of the strategic review. I appeal to all concerned to engage in dialogue to resolve these ongoing industrial relations problems.
When problems arise, there is often a tendency in this House, and I understand it, to call for immediate intervention. One of the strongest forces abroad that has helped us to develop this economy to the level it is at has been a spreading of experience and responsibility and autonomous bodies dealing with their own problems without political intervention, and we must allow that process to continue and to develop.
I look forward to the review being carried out and the necessary changes being introduced in order that there will be a return to harmonious relations between all sectors in the Red Cross and that what has happened recently is consigned to the past. The present position would not be enhanced or improved by direct political intervention because as far as the Red Cross is concerned that would contravene all international practice.