David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)

The Minister has not answered my question on why it is taking so long to reach a decision on these proposed reforms. Is it not true that the Department received these proposals in January and ten months later the Minister has not taken much action on them? Is it not time that action was taken? Far from intervening or interfering, as the Minister said, this is supporting and is something the Irish Red Cross Society itself seeks. Is it not true that it is the Minister who is delaying change, reform and progress on this matter, which will lead to the Irish Red Cross Society being open to all kinds of bad press which does not help its thousands of volunteers who do considerable good work, including some of its members who go overseas and put their lives at risk? Is it not about time for the Minister to make a decision that would support and help the Irish Red Cross Society by taking decisions on these reforms? Is it not the Minister's responsibility to introduce changes to the 1939 order?

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