Dáil debates

Wednesday, 20 January 2010

3:00 pm

Photo of Willie O'DeaWillie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 72 and 73 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 and is an independent, self-governing charitable institution. By resolution passed by its council of delegates in November 2007, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, IFRC, urged all national societies, as requested by action 3 of the strategy for the movement, to examine and update their statutes, that is, the rules of the national societies, and related legal texts by 2010 in accordance with the "Guidance for National Society Statutes" and relevant international conference resolutions. This task is being undertaken by many Red Cross and Red Crescent societies around the world.

In February 2008 the executive committee of the Irish Red Cross Society decided to establish a temporary working group on governance. This group, in the course of its deliberations, also sought advice from the IFRC. The chairman of the temporary working group made a presentation of its findings at the most recent meeting of the central council of the Irish Red Cross Society held at the end of November 2009. The central council, which is the plenary body of the national society, agreed in principle to the changes proposed subject to interdepartmental and inter-agency consultations.

The Department of Foreign Affairs which engages on an ongoing basis with the various components of the International Red Cross Movement and the Irish Red Cross Society in its overseas aid work will be invited to participate in these discussions. 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. I am assured that the formal report of the working group will be delivered to my Department in the next few days. The report will be discussed with relevant Departments and agencies and then brought before Government to give effect to any changes in legislation deemed necessary.

The Irish Red Cross Society is partly funded by a grant-in-aid from the Vote of the Department of Defence and I bring before Government such matters as are required by statute to be dealt with by Government. I have no responsibility for the day-to-day running of the organisation. However, as we are all aware, many organisations are currently faced with difficult financial constraints and it is incumbent on all of them to manage their affairs to minimise the effects of the recession. As is the case in many organisations, the society must take whatever steps it deems necessary to ensure its financial viability. The grant-in-aid to be provided by my Department for 2010 will be in the sum of €951,000 which is unchanged from the amount provided for in 2009.

I am aware that the former Secretary General who was on secondment from the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform has now returned to that Department. I acknowledge with thanks his role in pursuing the issue of governance. The position of Secretary General is being filled in an acting capacity pending the recruitment of a full-time Secretary General.

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