Liz McManus
Ceist:83 Deputy Liz McManus asked the Minister for Defence when he will introduce legislation regarding the Irish Red Cross; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9184/10]
Amharc ar fhreagraWednesday, 24 February 2010
Ceisteanna (39, 40, 41)
Joe Costello
Ceist:90 Deputy Joe Costello asked the Minister for Defence his views on the governance review of the Irish Red Cross; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9172/10]
Amharc ar fhreagra
Jimmy Deenihan
Ceist:195 Deputy Jimmy Deenihan asked the Minister for Defence the number of persons on the board of the Irish Red Cross; the number of ministerial nominees on the board of the Irish Red Cross; the number of board members serving 20 years or longer; the number serving ten years or longer; the number serving five years or longer; if he will introduce term limits to limit the time a person can serve on the board of the Irish Red Cross; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9631/10]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 83, 90 and 195 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 Society is an independent charitable organisation with full powers to manage and administer its affairs through its governing body, the Central Council.
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. The present Executive Committee was constituted at a meeting of the Central Council in June 2009. It presently has ten members. The positions of Chairman who is appointed by the President of Ireland on the advice of Government, and one ordinary member, a Government appointee to Central Council, are vacant. Of the remaining ten members of the Committee, three are Government appointees to Central Council.
No member of the current Executive Committee has attained twenty years or more service. One member has attained more than eighteen years but less than nineteen years service. Two other members have served more than ten years; and two members have served more than five years but less than ten years.
The Central Council of the Irish Red Cross, at its meeting on 28 November, 2009 adopted and approved the recommendations of the Governance Review Group of the Irish Red Cross which, inter alia, provide for Board rotation and finite terms of office for Board members. Such recommendations are in accordance with the Guidance on Governance standards of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. 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.
The report completed by the Temporary Working Group established by the Irish Red Cross Society to examine the issue of Governance in the Society was received in the Department of Defence at the end of January 2010.
The Minister for Defence is anxious to ensure that all his dealings with the Society are conducted in accordance with the Society's basic principle of independence from Government.
Officials in the Department of Defence met recently with officials in the Irish Red Cross Society to discuss the contents of the report and the implications of the recommendations arising from the report.
The contents of the 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. Thereafter, the Minister for Defence will bring before Government any statutory changes deemed necessary.
Question No. 84 answered with Question No. 73.