Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 June 2009
50 Deputy Seán Connick asked the Minister for Defence if he has had discussions with the chairperson of the Irish Red Cross regarding the future of the organisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24662/09]
Amharc ar fhreagra80 Deputy Liz McManus asked the Minister for Defence the people he has appointed or re-appointed to the board of the Irish Red Cross since taking office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24700/09]
Amharc ar fhreagra83 Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Defence his views on the governance of the Irish Red Cross; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24713/09]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 50, 80 and 83 together.
The Irish Red Cross Society is an autonomous body, established by the Irish Red Cross Society Order 1939 pursuant to the Red Cross Act, 1938. The Order sets out the basis on which the Society shall be governed. It provides that there shall be a Central Council which shall exercise the powers of the Society, organise the Society and control and manage the affairs of the Society. Membership of the Central Council is by way of appointment by the Government or by election in accordance with the rules of the Society. The Central Council in turn elects an Executive Committee which normally meets ten times a year.
The number of Government appointees is governed by the Order as being not less than one third of the total membership of the Central Council. The work experience of the Government appointees covers both the public and private sector and volunteer experience with the Society. The Government nominated the following persons to membership of the Central Council of the Irish Red Cross Society for the period up to the 30th April 2012:
Mr. David Andrews (Chairman)
Mr. Ted Noonan
Mr. Des Kavanagh
Mr. Rory McCabe
Professor Roger Downer
Mr. Scott Keenan
Mr. Christopher Fettes
Mr. David Lawler
Ms. Ann-Marie Flanagan
Ms. Julie (Julia Marie) Sadlier
Mr. Paul Foran
Mr. Brendan Bird
Ms. Sinead Teefy
Ms. Julianne Maher
Ms. Ann Murphy
Mr. Riostáird O'Flaherty
Ms. Josie Garvey
The Chairman of the Central Council is appointed by the President on the nomination of the Government.
The Society is an independent charitable organisation. I have no function in the day-to-day administration of the Irish Red Cross and as such I do not get involved in the day-to-day running of its affairs.
I received correspondence earlier this year from a member of the Central Council, who informed me of her decision to resign from the Council of the Society. In the letter, the Council member expressed concerns to me about governance, accountability and transparency issues within the Society. I forwarded the letter, with the consent of the person concerned, to the Chairman of the Society.
The issue of governance is one which is the subject of a governance committee within the Society. That committee is expected to report to the Executive Committee and the Central Council before the end of this year.
The contents of the report will be the subject of interdepartmental and interagency discussion. Thereafter, I will bring before Government any statutory changes deemed necessary.
