Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 244: To ask the Minister for Defence when he will propose the nomination to the President of the new chairman to the central council of the Irish Red Cross; the selection criteria for such an appointment; if the views of all relevant stakeholders, that is, the central council and the staff of the Red Cross, will be sought in relation to this appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44701/09]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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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 Order sets out the basis on which the Society shall be governed. It provides that there shall be a Central Council which shall exercise the powers of the Society, organise the Society and control and manage the affairs of the Society. Membership of the Central Council is by way of appointment by the Government or by election in accordance with the rules of the Society. In accordance with Section 9 of the Irish Red Cross Society Order, 1939 the Chairman of the Irish Red Cross Society shall be a member of the Central Council and shall be nominated by the President of the Society. The Red Cross Act, 1944, provides that the President of Ireland shall by virtue of her Office be President of the Society.

An individual must be a member of the Central Council of the Society before s/he can be appointed as Chairman. In nominating persons to Central Council, the Government considers that it is highly desirable that the Society should 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 and volunteer experience with the Society. The Government, in recommending to the President a person to act as Chairman, will carefully consider and nominate a person who it deems will make a positive contribution to the affairs of the Society.