Mr. Eugene Clonan:

There are grievance and disciplinary procedures, as there are in any organisation. Only approximately 1% of the 1,000 volunteers are involved in a grievance procedure. The rate is quite low when benchmarked against other organisations and it is low because we engage with our volunteers. A grievance usually involves two parties, but it may involve three or four. Those arising in a local community may become very raw and troublesome. Previously, we only had three managers on the coast and some grievances festered over time. Members may be aware of some such issues. We have recruited additional staff. In additon, to resolve particular issues we have taken on a HR company to review our manual, which stands up to best practice, and carry out mediation and try to work grievances through the process. If mediation does not work, there is still a process to be gone through which involves warnings, appeals and so on. That is the process and we work through it.