Jack Wall
Ceist:100 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Defence the reason he believes the Irish Red Cross Society should remain outside the Freedom of Information Act, 1997; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10415/01]
Written Answers. - Freedom of Information Act.
The Irish Red Cross Society, while performing an important statutory function in the dissemination of information on humanitarian law, the Geneva Convention and its additional protocols, to which Ireland is a signatory, is an autonomous body run by the central council through its executive committee. The society receives an annual grant-in-aid from my Department amounting to £509,000 for 2001.
The grant-in-aid is in respect of staff salaries and related costs and for refugee support services. The annual audited accounts of the society are available for inspection by the Comptroller and Auditor General and any queries raised are answered by the society. As I indicated in my reply to the Deputy's written Parliamentary Question No. 95 of 14 February last, I consider that, in view of the unique position held by the society, it should remain outside the remit of the Freedom of Information Act, 1997.
Question No. 101 answered with Question No. 99.