Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)

Before I was asked to take these questions I was already aware of some of the issues Deputy Deenihan has mentioned. The issue of Government participation in the running of the society was last raised in 1996 by the president of the International Committee of the Red Cross. It was subsequently raised with the society directly by the International Committee of the Red Cross. The matter was referred back to the Irish Red Cross Society to bring forward any proposals it considered necessary for consideration. No such proposals were received from the Irish Red Cross Society on foot of that referral. Any proposals for the reorganisation of the governance and management arrangements of the Irish Red Cross Society are a matter for the society in the first instance. The issue of the appointment of a secretary general to the society has been raised. I understand that the former secretary general, who was on secondment from the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, has returned to that Department. It is now a matter for the society to decide how that position is to be filled. There are issues and I will raise them with the Taoiseach.

See this speech in context