Tony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)

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 a 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 formal report of the working group established by the Irish Red Cross Society to examine the issue of governance was received in the Department of Defence in January of this year. The Department of Defence held preliminary discussions with the society on the recommendations contained in the report during February 2010. On 18 May, I met the acting chairman and secretary general of the society and assured them of my support in helping them achieve the aims set out in the report. To implement the recommendations made, there will be a requirement for significant amendments to the Irish Red Cross Society Order 1939.

Representatives of the society and officials from the Department of Defence met on 9 June to discuss the specific changes required to the 1939 order. The Department of Foreign Affairs, which engages on an ongoing basis with the various components of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and with the Irish Red Cross Society in regard to its overseas work, and the Department of the Taoiseach have been invited to participate in these discussions. Thereafter, any statutory changes necessary will be brought before the Government. I understand no issue has arisen that might necessitate an amendment to the Red Cross Act 1938.

In accordance with Article 9 of the Irish Red Cross Order 1939, the chairman of the society must be a member of the central council. In nominating persons to the central council, the Government considers it is highly desirable that the society have on its governing body professional people with a wide variety of knowledge and expertise, gained through work experience in both the public and private sector or volunteer experience with the society.

See this speech in context