This blog deals with the crisis at the Irish Red Cross, both governance, managerial and financial. Its purpose is to inform the broad membership of the organisation about the extent of the problems, to encourage debate and to identify solutions in order to secure the organisation's future.
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Ireland's leading current affairs and investigative TV program, Prime Time, reports on Irish Red Cross crisis
Use below web addresses to access the Prime Time TV program (26th August 2010) which reported in detail on the Irish Red Cross crisis:
Congratulations from abroad. You have been honest where many have been deceitful and have acted shamefully in the name of the Red Cross.
I used to be proud of being a member of such a huge organisation; more recently however I have felt shame at how core beliefs of the Red Cross Movement are being utterly defied. You have been a source of light, truth and honesty, in a time where it is quite dangerous to do so within the top quarters of the organisation.
My utmost respect goes to you for your outstanding courage to bring the truth to the public domain. Perhaps now that Everyone knows (at least some of) what has been going on in Merrion Square, the changes that NEED to be made shall occur in the correct manner. With, by, and for, the people. Certain members of the Board should be ..."replaced".
Noel you have got a legion of supporters from those who knew what was going on; from those who did not know what was going on but knew something wasn't right; and from those who now know it was you who posted those blogs. Whatever happens you shall have hundreds, even thousands of people, both members and non-members of the Society, behind you supporting you all the way.
I have been following your blog and newspaper articles on the reform needed in Irish Red Cross for some time.
Last night's Prime Time programme was superb on your side and abysmally weak on the Minister's and Red Cross's side.
The litany of things which need reform is astounding.
Where was the acting Secretary General? (€160K salary p.a.!!!!!!!) Where was the acting Chairman? Why were they not available for interview? Why is the Minister so slow in appointing people permantely to these posts?
He certainly seemed to distance himself, and the Government, from the Red Cross. Why is this?
I sincerely hope that staff, members and volunteers will follow your courageous lead and support you in every way they can from now on to bring about reform.
You are a man of integrity and courage and clearly committed to the ideals of the Red Cross.
I sincerely hope that you continue as Head of the International Dept.
The Irish Red Cross needs you even if management cannot see it.
WELL DONE ON YOUR BRAVE AND SINCERE ACTIONS IN EXPOSING DEEPLY WORRYING PROBLEMS AND ISSUES AT THE IRISH RED CROSS.BOTH THE ACTING SECRETARY-GENERAL AND VICE-CHAIRMAN SHOULD BE"REMOVED FROM OFFICE IMMEDIATELY"FOR GROSS MISMANAGEMENT AND CONDUCT UNBECOMING"!HAVING DONE SOME RESEARCH ON THIS ORGANISATION IT SEEMS THE INVOLVEMENT OF LOW-LEVEL PARTY POLITICAL HACKS...MOSTLY FROM FIANNA FAIL IN THE GOVERNANCE OF THE RED CROSS HAS CONTRIBUTED TO SOME OF THE PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED.!HOPEFULLY YOUR ACTIONS WILL LEAD TO SUBSTANTIALLY IMPROVED CLEANED-UP GOVERNANCE IN SUCH A RESPECTED ORGANISATION.
Excellent Noel. You are an inspiration to all. If the IRC were half as smart and as articulate they would have sorted this whole thing months ago. I very much hope there'll be no negative consequences for you. You are the kind of leader needed in there at this time.
Well done for taking a stand. Not willing for personal reasons to sign this comment but if asked to give corroborating evidence of the problems that you have spoken off, I would do so willingly. I have documentation over many years that would make an investigator sit up and take note! You've never been afraid to speak your mind and hopefully some good will come of this. I've suffered for speaking out about the Irish Red Cross and know just how vindictive the hierarchy can be and how spineless other members of Executive have been. I'd call on the members of Executive who know how rotten the system is to stand up and be counted. Where's the honorary secretary and the other members of Executive. Stand up and be counted and acknowledge that what is being said is true. Some might say a blog is not the right place to air this stuff but to be honest, it's been said for years and ye've all done nothing except be co-conspirators in getting rid of anyone, staff or volunteer who dared voice their displeasure. Now is the time to do the right thing! One more point, wasn't it ironic that Sheila Callan was the IRC spokesperson on Primetime. Sheila could tell her own story or two about being treated badly when she fell out of favour with the chosen few, ironic that she would then be party to defending them. Sheila, you were set up and poorly briefed, did you not know the Acting Sec Gen was back in the office? Good luck Noel, keep your head up, take heart and remember, there are plenty of people out there supporting you.
I saw the Prime Time Irish Red Cross program on line yesterday on RTE Player. It really is a shock to me to see how awful the Irish Red Cross performed on the show and what is happening in this charity. If this is the capacity of the organisation I will never again donate one penny to it. Irish Red Cross came across as deceitful, hiding things, very unprofessional and incompetent.If its true that the head of the Irish Red Cross is paid €160,000 per year as Prime Time said it is a disgrace. I plan to check the annual reports of Concern and Goal and Trocaire and the Order of Malta and St. Johns Ambulance but I bet this is far more than the CEOs of those organisations get. What is even worse is that the secretary general of the Irish Red Cross refused to be interviewed by Prime Time despite being in the office the day before (Wed) Prime Time went on air and all day Thursday therefore giving him ample time to be interviewed. His refusal came across really badly on the program. He must be very scared of being exposed if he refused to go on Prime Time and tried to use the excuse that he was away on holidays when in fact he was in the office.
The Irish Red Cross spokeswoman was destroyed by the Prime Time interviewer and she must be really embarrassed by her performance. She did not seem to know any of the answers and looked terrified and very uneasy the whole time. Its clear she is the fall guy for others who must have easily manipulated her as no-one in their right mind would ever put themselves in such a terrible position. It seems to me from reading all the media stuff that the two main people involved in creating this really sad situation are the Acting Chairman and Acting General Secretary. Amazing that neither were prepared to be interviewed or to go on record with Prime Time to counter the blog or all the other media stories about financial mismanagement and poor governance. This makes me very certain your blog is true. My experience in life is that people who have things to hide do just that...hide.
From an outsider looking in I would love to know what all your volunteers, staff and other board members are doing about all this. Are they staying quiet because if they are they will have to take responsibility for their non action. What happened to the Minister on Prime Time? Was it his first day on the job? He knew nothing or would say nothing. Why is he defending these people. I thought Richard Crowley tore him apart. If I were the Minister I would be very annoyed with my advisers because like the Irish Red Cross spokesperson he was another lamb to the slaughter.
I hope it all works out in the end and that the Irish Red Cross changes as a result of all this.
My god I just read the Eoghan Harris column in the Sunday Independent of 29th August 2010 (page 31). On the 'Thursday' part of his weekly diary he refers to the Prime Time program on the Irish Red Cross that went out on 26th August. Harris states in his diary that in 1970 money transferred to the Irish Red Cross from the Department of Finance to protect refugees from the North was in fact "used to finance the emergence of the Provisional IRA". Harris claims that at the time 'the director of the Irish Red Cross was the late Leslie Bean de Barra, wife of guerrilla leader Tom Barry, and a woman of strong IRA sympathies in her own right'. According to Harris the Irish Red Cross ended up involved in the Arms Trail of 1970 as a result. Does anyone in the Irish Red Cross know if this is true...Irish Red Cross funding the provisional IRA back in the 70s? Can things get any worse at the Irish Red Cross? What else is that place hiding??? I am so shocked, speechless...
Maybe it's time that all Irish NGO's have a closer look taken at their top executives pay and financial dealings. The IRC here are not the only NGO with top brass on that kind of money.
What about Concern and Trocaire ? Is it correct that their CEO's are on over 150k each and that their other top executives are on over 120k each ? Even in these times ? Obscene...
Dear Noel, your courage is so badly needed in the organisation and congrats on you efforts to date may you have the courage to see this through and help rebuild our organisation.
The Executive committee has a lot to answer to and has done for many years. Their elitist and dictatorship style of ruling has driven staff volunteers and members from the IRC. The speak only when you have nothing to say against us has been passed down to many at all levels leaving a network of bad apples at the core of the problem. The entire Board is out of date, and out of touch with the ethos of the IRC and is focused on personal gain and running a buddy system for themselves. What organisation could possibly survie when the elected officers are in office for so many years they forget who they are there to represent? A general assembly is needed so the members can have a vote of no confidence in these dinosaurs and put new people in these posts who have the interests of the IRC and most importantly its members at heart.
Who the hell gets paid €160k a year to do charity work. This organisation is rotten to the core.
ReplyDeleteDear Noel,
ReplyDeleteCongratulations from abroad. You have been honest where many have been deceitful and have acted shamefully in the name of the Red Cross.
I used to be proud of being a member of such a huge organisation; more recently however I have felt shame at how core beliefs of the Red Cross Movement are being utterly defied. You have been a source of light, truth and honesty, in a time where it is quite dangerous to do so within the top quarters of the organisation.
My utmost respect goes to you for your outstanding courage to bring the truth to the public domain. Perhaps now that Everyone knows (at least some of) what has been going on in Merrion Square, the changes that NEED to be made shall occur in the correct manner. With, by, and for, the people. Certain members of the Board should be ..."replaced".
Noel you have got a legion of supporters from those who knew what was going on; from those who did not know what was going on but knew something wasn't right; and from those who now know it was you who posted those blogs. Whatever happens you shall have hundreds, even thousands of people, both members and non-members of the Society, behind you supporting you all the way.
My very best regards.
N
Noel,
ReplyDeleteYou are a person of calibre, courage and integrity.
Best regards
Jenny Bulbulia
Well done Noel, you are still the Head of International Ops and it would be a criminal act to remove you from your position.
ReplyDeleteKeep up the momentum and don't let them wear you down, you are the one doing the right thing!
Dear Noel
ReplyDeleteI have been following your blog and newspaper articles on the reform needed in Irish Red Cross for some time.
Last night's Prime Time programme was superb on your side and abysmally weak on the Minister's and Red Cross's side.
The litany of things which need reform is astounding.
Where was the acting Secretary General? (€160K salary p.a.!!!!!!!)
Where was the acting Chairman?
Why were they not available for interview?
Why is the Minister so slow in appointing people permantely to these posts?
He certainly seemed to distance himself, and the Government, from the Red Cross. Why is this?
I sincerely hope that staff, members and volunteers will follow your courageous lead and support you in every way they can from now on to bring about reform.
You are a man of integrity and courage and clearly committed to the ideals of the Red Cross.
I sincerely hope that you continue as Head of the International Dept.
The Irish Red Cross needs you even if management cannot see it.
WELL DONE ON YOUR BRAVE AND SINCERE ACTIONS IN EXPOSING DEEPLY WORRYING PROBLEMS AND ISSUES AT THE IRISH RED CROSS.BOTH THE ACTING SECRETARY-GENERAL AND VICE-CHAIRMAN SHOULD BE"REMOVED FROM OFFICE IMMEDIATELY"FOR GROSS MISMANAGEMENT AND CONDUCT UNBECOMING"!HAVING DONE SOME RESEARCH ON THIS ORGANISATION IT SEEMS THE INVOLVEMENT OF LOW-LEVEL PARTY POLITICAL HACKS...MOSTLY FROM FIANNA FAIL IN THE GOVERNANCE OF THE RED CROSS HAS CONTRIBUTED TO SOME OF THE PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED.!HOPEFULLY YOUR ACTIONS WILL LEAD TO SUBSTANTIALLY IMPROVED CLEANED-UP GOVERNANCE IN SUCH A RESPECTED ORGANISATION.
ReplyDeleteExcellent Noel. You are an inspiration to all. If the IRC were half as smart and as articulate they would have sorted this whole thing months ago. I very much hope there'll be no negative consequences for you. You are the kind of leader needed in there at this time.
ReplyDeleteNoel
ReplyDeleteWell done for taking a stand. Not willing for personal reasons to sign this comment but if asked to give corroborating evidence of the problems that you have spoken off, I would do so willingly. I have documentation over many years that would make an investigator sit up and take note! You've never been afraid to speak your mind and hopefully some good will come of this. I've suffered for speaking out about the Irish Red Cross and know just how vindictive the hierarchy can be and how spineless other members of Executive have been. I'd call on the members of Executive who know how rotten the system is to stand up and be counted. Where's the honorary secretary and the other members of Executive. Stand up and be counted and acknowledge that what is being said is true. Some might say a blog is not the right place to air this stuff but to be honest, it's been said for years and ye've all done nothing except be co-conspirators in getting rid of anyone, staff or volunteer who dared voice their displeasure. Now is the time to do the right thing! One more point, wasn't it ironic that Sheila Callan was the IRC spokesperson on Primetime. Sheila could tell her own story or two about being treated badly when she fell out of favour with the chosen few, ironic that she would then be party to defending them. Sheila, you were set up and poorly briefed, did you not know the Acting Sec Gen was back in the office? Good luck Noel, keep your head up, take heart and remember, there are plenty of people out there supporting you.
I saw the Prime Time Irish Red Cross program on line yesterday on RTE Player. It really is a shock to me to see how awful the Irish Red Cross performed on the show and what is happening in this charity. If this is the capacity of the organisation I will never again donate one penny to it. Irish Red Cross came across as deceitful, hiding things, very unprofessional and incompetent.If its true that the head of the Irish Red Cross is paid €160,000 per year as Prime Time said it is a disgrace. I plan to check the annual reports of Concern and Goal and Trocaire and the Order of Malta and St. Johns Ambulance but I bet this is far more than the CEOs of those organisations get. What is even worse is that the secretary general of the Irish Red Cross refused to be interviewed by Prime Time despite being in the office the day before (Wed) Prime Time went on air and all day Thursday therefore giving him ample time to be interviewed. His refusal came across really badly on the program. He must be very scared of being exposed if he refused to go on Prime Time and tried to use the excuse that he was away on holidays when in fact he was in the office.
ReplyDeleteThe Irish Red Cross spokeswoman was destroyed by the Prime Time interviewer and she must be really embarrassed by her performance. She did not seem to know any of the answers and looked terrified and very uneasy the whole time. Its clear she is the fall guy for others who must have easily manipulated her as no-one in their right mind would ever put themselves in such a terrible position. It seems to me from reading all the media stuff that the two main people involved in creating this really sad situation are the Acting Chairman and Acting General Secretary. Amazing that neither were prepared to be interviewed or to go on record with Prime Time to counter the blog or all the other media stories about financial mismanagement and poor governance. This makes me very certain your blog is true. My experience in life is that people who have things to hide do just that...hide.
From an outsider looking in I would love to know what all your volunteers, staff and other board members are doing about all this. Are they staying quiet because if they are they will have to take responsibility for their non action. What happened to the Minister on Prime Time? Was it his first day on the job? He knew nothing or would say nothing. Why is he defending these people. I thought Richard Crowley tore him apart. If I were the Minister I would be very annoyed with my advisers because like the Irish Red Cross spokesperson he was another lamb to the slaughter.
I hope it all works out in the end and that the Irish Red Cross changes as a result of all this.
Jesus Noel, between the two of us always thought *I* was the rebel :p
ReplyDeleteI just got clued into this... fiasco.
We need to talk, mail me at tom .at. boards.ie
I might be able to help.
Tom Murphy.
My god I just read the Eoghan Harris column in the Sunday Independent of 29th August 2010 (page 31). On the 'Thursday' part of his weekly diary he refers to the Prime Time program on the Irish Red Cross that went out on 26th August. Harris states in his diary that in 1970 money transferred to the Irish Red Cross from the Department of Finance to protect refugees from the North was in fact "used to finance the emergence of the Provisional IRA". Harris claims that at the time 'the director of the Irish Red Cross was the late Leslie Bean de Barra, wife of guerrilla leader Tom Barry, and a woman of strong IRA sympathies in her own right'. According to Harris the Irish Red Cross ended up involved in the Arms Trail of 1970 as a result. Does anyone in the Irish Red Cross know if this is true...Irish Red Cross funding the provisional IRA back in the 70s? Can things get any worse at the Irish Red Cross? What else is that place hiding??? I am so shocked, speechless...
ReplyDeleteMaybe it's time that all Irish NGO's have a closer look taken at their top executives pay and financial dealings. The IRC here are not the only NGO with top brass on that kind of money.
ReplyDeleteWhat about Concern and Trocaire ? Is it correct that their CEO's are on over 150k each and that their other top executives are on over 120k each ? Even in these times ? Obscene...
Well done! just to let you know, you have a lot of support. It was about time someone blew the lid on this.
ReplyDeleteGood luck.
Dear Noel,
ReplyDeleteyour courage is so badly needed in the organisation and congrats on you efforts to date may you have the courage to see this through and help rebuild our organisation.
The Executive committee has a lot to answer to and has done for many years. Their elitist and dictatorship style of ruling has driven staff volunteers and members from the IRC. The speak only when you have nothing to say against us has been passed down to many at all levels leaving a network of bad apples at the core of the problem. The entire Board is out of date, and out of touch with the ethos of the IRC and is focused on personal gain and running a buddy system for themselves. What organisation could possibly survie when the elected officers are in office for so many years they forget who they are there to represent? A general assembly is needed so the members can have a vote of no confidence in these dinosaurs and put new people in these posts who have the interests of the IRC and most importantly its members at heart.
You are an embassador to IRC and yourself
Best regards in the future