Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 May 2012
535 Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Defence if the current three year term of Government appointed members of the Irish Red Cross Central Council expires at the end of April 2012; if he will be appointing four new Government appointees for a period of three years; when he will be announcing the names, qualifications and experiences of his nominees; and the way the four persons were chosen. [21503/12]
Amharc ar fhreagra536 Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Defence if the Irish Red Cross, for the first time in its 73 year history will appoint its own chairperson for a three year term in May 2012; if the Irish Red Cross will advertise this vacancy publicly; and the procedures, if any, for putting suitably qualified candidates forward for consideration. [21504/12]
Amharc ar fhreagra537 Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Defence if in May 2012 the Irish Red Cross will appoint members to its board; in view of the fact that his Department is a significant donor to the Irish Red Cross 2012 grant, circa €850,000, and further in view of the fact that he will have five representatives on the Board, four nominees and a Department official, if he has sought assurances that current IRC members with long term service on the board, such as the vice chairman with 21 years' service and the treasurer with 12 years' service, will step down and make way for new candidates. [21505/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 535 to 537, inclusive, together.
As the Irish Red Cross Society is not a State Body, there is no requirement for Government to advertise publicly in advance of nominations being made by it to the Society's General Assembly. Following its recent decision to amend the Irish Red Cross Society Order 1939, the Government may nominate up to 10% of the membership of the General Assembly. On the basis of the Society's current overall membership, which in turn dictates the size of its General Assembly, the maximum number of Government nominees is four. I intend to propose four names for nomination by Government shortly.
I am aware of the fact that it is the firm view of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies that membership of the Society's Board of Directors is a matter for the Irish Red Cross itself. In these circumstances, it would not be appropriate for me to seek assurances on the future make-up of the Board but I am satisfied that appointments to a new Board of Directors will be made shortly in accordance with the Society's recently revised Constitution and Rules. The Deputy may wish to note that there is no provision in the Constitution or Rules for the Minister for Defence to have five representatives on the Board.
A further change made by the Government's recent decision to amend the Irish Red Cross Society Order 1939 is that the Society shall shortly appoint a Chairperson, in accordance with its own Constitution and Rules. The process of appointing a Chairperson is therefore a matter for the Society itself.
538 Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Defence in November 2010 the former Head of International Department (details supplied) at the Irish Red Cross was dismissed by the Society for whistleblowing on a range of governance and financial matters, their unfair dismissal case before the Employment Appeals Tribunal will be heard on 9 May 2012, in view of the fact that his Department’s official (details supplied) who sits on the Irish Red Cross Board was the formal administrator of the persons internal disciplinary hearing, if his Department will be appearing before the Tribunal as a witness. [21506/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe calling of witnesses to appear before the Employment Appeals Tribunal in relation to this case is a matter for the Tribunal itself. My Department will co-operate fully with any such request made by the Tribunal.
