Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

299. To ask the Minister for Defence if his attention has been drawn to the recent resignation of the Secretary General of the Irish Red Cross; the reason for the resignation; if his attention has also been drawn to the recent resignations of the heads of finance and communications at the Irish Red Cross; the reasons for these resignations; if his attention has been further drawn to a media report (details supplied) on the Irish Red Cross; his views on same; his further views on the apparent lack of progress on corporate governance reforms at the Irish Red Cross; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10448/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

My attention has been drawn to the media report in question and I am aware of the fact that three senior managers at the Irish Red Cross Society have recently resigned from their positions. However, pursuant to relevant legislation, the Irish Red Cross Society is an independent charitable body corporate with full power to manage and administer its own affairs and accordingly the reasons for the three resignations are entirely a matter for the Society itself.

In recent years the Society has reformed its corporate governance structures and now has in place a governance framework that meets the standards set by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross. The reforms introduced were facilitated by the legislative amendments made by this Government in 2012 which represented the most wide ranging and fundamental set of changes to have occurred since the establishment of the Society in 1939. Furthermore, in accordance with a Programme for Government commitment, my Department is continuing to progress a legal review of the basis, structures and governance of the Irish Red Cross to further underpin the independence of the Society and I anticipate that this will result in a new Red Cross Bill.

The Departmental Official who is a member of the Irish Red Cross Executive Board regularly keeps the Minister informed of developments in the Society.