I understand that under the Geneva Convention for the Amelioration of the Condition of the Wounded and Sick in Armed Forces in the Field, the Geneva Convention for the Amelioration of the Condition of the Wounded, Sick and Ship-wrecked Members of Armed Forces at Sea, the Geneva Convention Relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War, and the Geneva Convention Relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949, State parties undertake to disseminate the text of the conven tions as widely as possible, so that the principles thereof may become known to the entire population.
Ireland became a party to the conventions on 27 September 1962. The text of all four conventions was printed in the Irish Treaty Series of 1963, for the information of the public.
I understand that the Irish Red Cross Society disseminates information in relation to humanitarian law. I might add that in relation to the Defence Forces, legal officers and other officers of the Defence Forces attend courses on international humanitarian law, and instruction is given on the subject in the Military College and in other training establishments throughout the Defence Forces.
As I have previously indicated, however, I have no function in the administration of the Irish 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. My Department, as in the past, is available to provide help and assistance to the society as and when requested.
My Department administers a grant-in-aid to the Irish Red Cross Society, which this year amounts to £609,000. The grant-in-aid mainly covers the salaries of 14 permanent staff in the headquarters of the society, and salary and related expenses for a staff member on full-time secondment to the directorate for asylum seekers services, the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. It also includes the State's annual contribution of £100,000 to the International Committee of the Red Cross in Geneva. The grant-in-aid does not apply to the dissemination of information in relation to humanitarian law.
