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Irish Red Cross.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 17 December 2009

Thursday, 17 December 2009

Ceisteanna (267, 268, 269, 270)

Michael D. Higgins

Ceist:

267 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Defence his views on whether the Irish Red Cross’s reputation and credibility within the International Red Cross movement has been damaged or compromised in view of the recent negative media articles on the Irish Red Cross (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48213/09]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Michael D. Higgins

Ceist:

268 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Defence his views, in view of the fact that the Irish Red Cross is an auxiliary to the Government in the provision of humanitarian services as endorsed by the Government at the 30th International Conference of the Red Cross, Red Crescent and state parties to the Geneva Convention in Geneva in 2007, on whether this role is in any way compromised by the many years of governance difficulties at the Irish Red Cross and the recent resignations of its chairman and secretary general; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48214/09]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Brian O'Shea

Ceist:

269 Deputy Brian O’Shea asked the Minister for Defence if he has received a copy of the Irish Red Cross governance reform report following the recent council meeting of the Irish Red Cross; his views on the proposals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47780/09]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Michael D. Higgins

Ceist:

279 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Defence if, further to a previous parliamentary question in which he stated that upon the submission by the Irish Red Cross of a governance reform report to his office that an interdepartmental discussion between the Departments of Defence, the Taoiseach and Foreign Affairs would take place, he will confirm that his Department will take part in these discussions with the Departments of Defence and the Taoiseach, as well as with the Irish Red Cross and International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent and the International Committee of the Red Cross; the role the Department of Foreign Affairs will play in this process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48215/09]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 267 to 269, inclusive, and 279 together.

I have not yet received a copy of the report, which was recently completed by a governance committee within the Irish Red Cross Society. As previously stated, the contents of the governance report will be the subject of interdepartmental and interagency consultations on the reform process. The Department of Foreign Affairs, which engages on an ongoing basis with the various components of the International Red Cross Movement, and with the Irish Red Cross Society, in relation to its overseas aid work, will be invited to participate in these discussions.

I am not aware that the reputation, credibility or the role of the Society as an auxiliary to Government have been adversely affected by recent media articles. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies has been and is supportive of the review process which was undertaken by the Irish Red Cross Society.

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