Departmental Agencies

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 December 2011

Tuesday, 6 December 2011

Questions (296, 297, 298)

Finian McGrath

Question:

301 Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Defence if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the proposed mandatory break in service for members of the Red Cross executive committee is not yet in force and that two members of the committee, the vice-chairman and treasurer who have served for 21 and ten years, respectively, are still members of the committee and, under proposed new governance arrangements, can each serve for a further six years each bringing their service to potentially 27 and 16 years, respectively; his views on this arrangement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38750/11]

Written answers

Minister for Defence (Deputy Alan Shatter)

The revised Rules and Constitution of the Irish Red Cross that were agreed at the last meeting of the Society's Central Council in May 2011 will take effect when the Irish Red Cross Society Order 1939 has been amended by Government. The text of this proposed legislation is currently being finalised and officials from my Department are engaged in ongoing consultation with the Office of the Attorney General in this regard. My views on the need for turnover and rotation at leadership levels in the Society are well known. I do not consider it conducive to good corporate governance that any individual can serve for an indefinite period on either the Central Council or on the Executive Committee. I have made these views known to the Society and I welcome the fact that, pending legislation to amend the 1939 Order, the Society has taken steps to address my concerns. In saying this however, I am also conscious of the fact that the Society is both an independent body corporate and a democratic organisation whose members ultimately have the power to decide who should be elected to its Executive Committee.

Finian McGrath

Question:

302 Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Defence if he expects to appoint a replacement Government nominee to the central council of the Irish Red Cross beforeits next scheduled meeting on 10 December; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38751/11]

Minister for Defence (Deputy Alan Shatter)

While a member of the Council resigned earlier this year for personal reasons, there is no immediate requirement for the Government to appoint a replacement as the number of Government nominees currently meets the statutory requirement that at least one-third of the Council be made up of such nominees.

Jack Wall

Question:

303 Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the progress he has made in regard to his commitment to have a dispute investigated (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38414/11]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Simon Coveney)

The dispute has its origins in the dismissal of the person in question by the Agricultural Institute in 1964. His dismissal was a matter for the Council of the Institute. The relevant legislation governing the matter was the Agriculture (An Foras Taluntais) Act 1958. Article 17(2) of that Act stated that ‘.....the members of the staff of the Institute shall be appointed and removed by or under the authority of the Council'.

Teagasc who are the legal successors to the Council reviewed this case and the Director of Teagasc offered to explore some form of words agreeable to both parties which would help alleviate the sense of grievance felt by the person in question. I understand this offer has not been accepted to date.