Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 1763: To ask the Minister for Defence if he will appoint a highly qualified, skilled and experienced chairperson to the Red Cross and to initiate an investigation into the undeclared Tipperary bank account in which €162,000 raised for victims of the Asian tsunami lay dormant for more than three years. [32388/10]

Tony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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The Irish Red Cross Society is an independent statute-based charitable organisation with full power to manage its own affairs. The Minister for Defence has no function in the administration of the Irish Red Cross Society and does not get involved in the day-to-day running of its affairs. Mr. David J. O'Callaghan was recently appointed by the President as the new chairman of the Irish Red Cross. Mr. O'Callaghan is a former career civil servant with vast experience of public administration at senior management level. He has extensive experience of matters relating to the Irish Red Cross Society from his previous post as Secretary General of the Department of Defence, which he held from 1995 to 2004. I am confident that Mr. O'Callaghan will help expedite the reform process that is under way in the Irish Red Cross Society. The issue of the referred bank account is being dealt with by the society. I understand that all funds have been properly accounted for and that there is no suggestion of any wrong doing in relation thereto. The society has put in place new and revised procedures so that such circumstances do not recur.