The Irish Red Cross held its mid year Central Council meeting on Saturday 12th June 2010. This meeting presented an opportunity to fundamentally reform the organisation. In particular it should have been an occasion that saw the current Vice Chairman tender his resignation for keeping a secret bank account for four years in the name of the Irish Red Cross with over €150,000 collected from the Irish public for the Tsunami in early 2005 and never declaring it to head office until an internal audit discovered it in late 2008 forcing him to admit its existence and return the money to head office. The Vice Chairman has to date got away scot free with this and as a result the reputation of the Irish Red Cross continues to be damaged as he is currently holds the position of Acting Chairman pending the Government's appointment of a replacement for Mr. David Andrews, who resigned in December 2009. It would seem from reports emanating from the Central Council meeting that once again Central Council members feared questioning the Vice Chairman, Tony Lawlor, on this matter. In addition no-one has ever answered the question 'what would have happened to this money and the secret bank account if the internal audit had not discovered it?' It has become ever more difficult for Irish Red Cross volunteers, members, staff and Central Council/Executive officials to explain externally to the Irish Government and the International Red Cross in Geneva why no action has been taken in this regard.
Despite the fact, however, that fundamental reform was not initiated last Saturday progress was nevertheless made in slowly changing the make up of the ruling elite on Executive Committee.
Mr. Des Kavanagh, who has served on the Executive Committee for nearly twenty years decided not to go forward this year. This Blog would like to wish Mr. Kavanagh best wishes for the future and notes his twenty years service to the organisation. Mr Kavanagh was replaced by Ms. Ann Murphy, a government nominee to Central Council. This Blog views Ms. Murphy's election to Executive as extremely significant and very positive. Ms. Murphy, since her appointment to the Central Council twelve months ago, has clearly demonstrated that she is an independent minded woman not afraid to ask difficult questions. Ms. Murphy is known to be a very formidable woman and therefore her presence on Executive for the next twelve months is a very positive step forward for the reform agenda. Ms. Murphy is not the sort of woman to be intimidated by the bullying tactics the ruling elite are now notorious for. Congratulations therefore go to Ms. Murphy and to all those who ensured her election. There is one other new Executive Committee member, Cliona Lehane, but at this stage little is known by the Blog authors and supporters about her but a number of people have indicated that they understand she is close to the Vice Chairman but this may or may not be true.
Otherwise the meeting finalised the various Working Group Chairpersons. Nothing noteworthy here apart from the resurrection of the Overseas Working Group which had ceased to exist after the resignation of its former Chair, Judge Rory Mac Cabe, from Central Council last year. Judge Mac Cabe was a huge supporter of the overseas work of the Irish Red Cross and his presence has been sorely missed. Ms. Sheila Callan is the new Chair of the Overseas Working Group, having previously served in this position for a number of years in the past. This Blog welcomes the restoration of the Overseas Working Group as the Overseas Department has been transformed over the last five years and has and continues to carry out remarkable work all over the world. As one member put it 'the Overseas Department has grown dramatically in the last few years and has earned a very strong reputation with the Irish Government and the International Red Cross in Geneva. Everyone in the Irish Red Cross is very proud of its achievements. Despite this we hear constant rumours that the agenda of the ruling elite on Executive, aided and abetted by the temporary Acting Secretary General, is to shut the Overseas Department down because its seen as troublesome to the power base of those who dominate and control the Irish Red Cross. The Overseas Department therefore needs a strong Overseas Working Group to protect it from this disgraceful agenda and no better woman to fight its corner than Sheila Callan'. This Blog wishes Ms Callan every success in her new role.
In summary then this Blog views the recent Central Council meeting with mixed emotions. Disappointment that unacceptable and questionable standards and behavior continue to be condoned but optimistic that progress, no matter how small, has been made in slowly replacing the ruling elite on Executive. Minister of Defence, Tony Killeen, must now immediately appoint a new Chairperson and thereafter the post of Secretary General must be advertised and a suitable candidate recruited in a transparent and open manner. The current Acting Secretary General, Declan O'Sullivan, is only in the role on a temporary basis. This Blog understands he is to be replaced in late 2010 as per press releases issued by the Irish Red Cross in December 2009 following the resignation of both the organisation's Chairman and Secretary General.
On a separate matter:
This Blog can only hope that the first two comments which followed the previous Blog article were not written by anyone holding a leadership position within the Irish Red Cross as the contents clearly indicate an author with well below average intelligence and a level of pettiness and immaturity unbecoming of a leader. The Blog, on the other hand, hopes that the author of comment three does hold a position of influence in the organisation as clearly the person is articulate, perceptive and capable of expressing a view in an intelligent and appropriate manner.
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Questions Irish Red Cross Board members need to ask and seek answers to at June 12th Central Council Meeting
On June 12th 2010 the Irish Red Cross will hold the first of its twice yearly Central Council meetings. The mid-year meeting is particularly important as its sees the annual election of the Executive Committee, the sub-committee of the Central Council which meets on a monthly basis and oversees the Secretary General and staff. Twice a year the Central Council meets. The Executive Committee reports back to the Board on the previous six months. Unfortunately, however, over the last twenty years the Central Council has lost virtually all its power and influence as control of the Irish Red Cross is now firmly in the iron grip of one or two Executive Committee members. Central Council has been disenfranchised completely in recent years. One member familiar with all the players summed it up ‘over a period of twelve to fifteen years Central Council has become less and less influential as one or two individuals on Executive gained more and more power and over time nullified all opposition. These individuals now run the Irish Red Cross as if it was their own personal empire. Central Council members need to urgently reassert themselves and regain control of the organisation and in particular the Executive. I hope Central Council members will once and for all face up to this responsibility and drive through both reform and personnel change. Failure to do so would be remiss’.
The Blog authors and its numerous contributors have put together the following list of questions that we believe require immediate answers. We would ask that Central Council members seek answers to these questions and that they begin this process by asking each and every one of these questions at the Central Council meeting on June 12th and putting them to Mr. Tony (Anthony) Lawlor, Acting Vice Chairman and Mr. Declan O'Sullivan, Acting Secretary General. Questions as follows:
1. In late 2008, following an internal audit conducted secretly, it was discovered that the Vice Chairman of the Irish Red Cross had an undeclared bank account in the name of the Irish Red Cross with over €150,000 in it. Following the discovery of this account it transpired that the money had been collected from the Irish public in early 2005 for the victims of the Tsunami. This money was not transferred to head office in Dublin, as it should have been as per Irish Red Cross policy, where it would have been spent on its intended purpose. This money was never declared to head office and for nearly four years it sat in a bank account in Tipperary. The Vice Chairman needs to be asked to explain his actions to Central Council and to state why he believes his actions did not warrant his immediate resignation in late 2008 when the money was discovered. Central Council must have this matter independently investigated. Following an investigation and its findings/recommendations Central Council, and only Central Council, must decide on an appropriate course of action. The failure to address this matter openly and transparently has been very damaging to the reputation of the Irish Red Cross externally as well as destroying morale internally.
2. Regarding the above, Central Council must ask why no investigation has taken place to date and why the information was never made known to Central Council and Executive members at the time? The information only became public knowledge when reported on by the Irish media.
3. Why do Executive Committee members who have served more than twelve years (and three have served nearly twenty years) feel they should continue in office when globally accepted good governance practice recommends that two terms in office of approximately 3/4 years each should be the maximum? These ‘ruling elite’ members should take the opportunity to step aside and allow fresh blood and new ideas take the Irish Red Cross forward.
4. The Governance Reform proposals sent to the Irish Government contain no provisions for including the back dating of service meaning that Executive members who have already served up to twenty years will be allowed continue in office for at least another six years and then only have to step down for one year before being eligible to serve again for another six years. These so called ‘governance reform proposals’ are derisory and are designed to see the ruling elite retain power indefinitely. Central Council should demand the recalling from Government of the ‘proposals’ while an independent expert on governance reform is hired to oversee an entirely new and objective process.
5. Why has there been no General Assembly of all members since 2005? A General Assembly is supposed to be held by the Irish Red Cross every two years but one was not held in 2007 or in 2009. Central Council should decide on a date in 2010 for a General Assembly and instruct Executive and the Acting Secretary General to begin preparations to hold it.
6. Why was the specially planned Central Council meeting scheduled for February 2010 cancelled? The November 2009 Central Council meeting decided to hold a special Council meeting in February 2010 but certain Executive members unilaterally decided to cancel it. These members to not have the authority to over ride a Central Council decision and this they must be urgently reminded of.
7. Central Council should instruct Executive to immediately open the post for a permanent Secretary General. An independent and specialised recruitment firm should be hired to oversee the process. Price WaterHouse Coopers (PWC) has been used in the past and provided a top level professional service. The Irish Red Cross has not had a permanent Secretary General since the departure of Carmel Dunne in mid 2007. The constant flux and uncertainty around the top staffing position has been very unhelpful on many levels. John Roycroft, a consummate professional, was nevertheless a temporary ‘on loan’ appointment from the Department of Justice and the current Acting Secretary General is due to be replaced in the latter half of 2010 (as per Irish Red Cross press releases last December, at the time of the two resignations of the then Chairman, David Andrews and Secretary General, John Roycroft).
8. How much money has the Irish Red Cross spent on external consultants in the last decade? How many consultants is the Irish Red Cross currently paying? At the very least there are three, in the shape of a Communications Consultant, a Web Consultant and a Human Resource/Industrial Relations Consultant (who it is understood is used on a near daily basis by the Acting Secretary General as he scrambles to fire fight the chaotic industrial relations environment that has been created over the last six months). In addition to these three consultants this Blog has been informed that all four staff made redundant in January 2010 were all re-hired immediately on consultancy contracts. This despite receiving generous redundancy packages.
9. Regarding consultants it is very important the Central Council ask who authorised the payment of over €300,000 between 2008 and 2009 to the then Consultant Acting Head of Finance (now Acting Secretary General).
10. Central Council members may or may not be aware that the Irish Red Cross owns numerous properties around the country. These properties have accumulated over the years and have mostly come into the possession of the Irish Red Cross from wills. These properties have never been recorded in the accounts of the Irish Red Cross. This is contrary to accounting practice and the Irish Red Cross has been regularly reprimanded by its auditors for failing to adhere to proper practice on this. Property bequeathed in wills must be treated as income in financial accounts. The Irish Red Cross has failed to do this. Central Council members need to get a list outlining every single property owned by the Irish Red Cross as well as each property’s address, specifications, current use and present market value. It is understood that there are in excess of eighteen/nineteen properties currently owned by the Society but not properly accounted for in the organisation’s financial accounts.
11. Regarding the above, Central Council needs to demand a detailed plan for these properties be prepared including an outline of who is managing this extensive property portfolio, is the Irish Red Cross ensuring it is earning and investing income as a result of these properties, why were these properties not sold during the housing boom and the funds re-invested in the activities of the organisation at home and overseas, how will the properties be used in the future, are all the properties adequately insured and why has this property portfolio been kept a secret for so many years. Central Council should direct Executive to immediately hire a firm of property management specialists to professionally and competently handle this matter on behalf of the Irish Red Cross.
12. For twenty five years staff and members have regularly expressed serious concern that when there are large Appeals for disasters not all funds raised go to that appeal and that a significant portion of the monies raised goes into the general accounts of the Irish Red Cross and so the wishes of the donors/public are ignored. There are newspaper articles going back as far as the mid 80’s and the 90’s raising serious questions on this matter (Irish Times 15th April 1985, Irish Times 1st May 1985, Irish Times 2nd May 1985, Irish Times 26th May 1993, Irish Times 28th February 1998, Irish Times 24th November 1999 as but examples). These concerns are as valid today as they were back then and it is the view of this Blog that any independent analysis of Irish Red Cross allocation of funds policy would reveal this practice is alive and well in addition to exposing the organisation to incalculable reputational damage. The practice, therefore, must be ended immediately.
13. Central Council should write and sign a letter to the Minister for Defence, Tony Killeen, requesting that he appoint a suitably qualified and experienced Chairperson to the Irish Red Cross immediately. The absence of a strong and respected Chair for the last six months has only served to deepen the governance and leadership crisis at the Society.
14. Central Council should support the numerous calls by Fine Gael and Labour for a full, comprehensive and detailed Independent Investigation into the affairs of the Irish Red Cross. This must be the starting point for the organisation’s recovery.
15. Central Council must demand explanations for the dramatic deterioration in relations between staff and the Acting Secretary General resulting in three appearances before the Labour Court in six months, constant meetings with trade unions on numerous issues that would previously have been handled without creating a crisis and the near permanent recruitment by the Acting Secretary General of an expensive HR/Industrial Relations Consultant to advise him on the ever deepening mess. Central Council must address the worrying atmosphere of fear that exists amongst staff at head office. Management by fear is a sure sign of failure and inability.
16. Central Council must insist on the development of an overall Irish Red Cross three or five year strategy. It is a damning indictment on the Irish Red Cross that it does not have a three or five year strategic plan but instead operates in a vacuum of ad hoc and reactive decision making lacking vision and foresight. For three years Central Council has been told the development of a strategic plan ‘is in process’ but despite the passage of time one never appears. An organisational long term strategy must be one of the top priorities for the permanent Secretary General upon his/her recruitment later this year.
This Blog wishes the Central Council members well for their meeting and deliberations on June 12th.
The Blog authors and its numerous contributors have put together the following list of questions that we believe require immediate answers. We would ask that Central Council members seek answers to these questions and that they begin this process by asking each and every one of these questions at the Central Council meeting on June 12th and putting them to Mr. Tony (Anthony) Lawlor, Acting Vice Chairman and Mr. Declan O'Sullivan, Acting Secretary General. Questions as follows:
1. In late 2008, following an internal audit conducted secretly, it was discovered that the Vice Chairman of the Irish Red Cross had an undeclared bank account in the name of the Irish Red Cross with over €150,000 in it. Following the discovery of this account it transpired that the money had been collected from the Irish public in early 2005 for the victims of the Tsunami. This money was not transferred to head office in Dublin, as it should have been as per Irish Red Cross policy, where it would have been spent on its intended purpose. This money was never declared to head office and for nearly four years it sat in a bank account in Tipperary. The Vice Chairman needs to be asked to explain his actions to Central Council and to state why he believes his actions did not warrant his immediate resignation in late 2008 when the money was discovered. Central Council must have this matter independently investigated. Following an investigation and its findings/recommendations Central Council, and only Central Council, must decide on an appropriate course of action. The failure to address this matter openly and transparently has been very damaging to the reputation of the Irish Red Cross externally as well as destroying morale internally.
2. Regarding the above, Central Council must ask why no investigation has taken place to date and why the information was never made known to Central Council and Executive members at the time? The information only became public knowledge when reported on by the Irish media.
3. Why do Executive Committee members who have served more than twelve years (and three have served nearly twenty years) feel they should continue in office when globally accepted good governance practice recommends that two terms in office of approximately 3/4 years each should be the maximum? These ‘ruling elite’ members should take the opportunity to step aside and allow fresh blood and new ideas take the Irish Red Cross forward.
4. The Governance Reform proposals sent to the Irish Government contain no provisions for including the back dating of service meaning that Executive members who have already served up to twenty years will be allowed continue in office for at least another six years and then only have to step down for one year before being eligible to serve again for another six years. These so called ‘governance reform proposals’ are derisory and are designed to see the ruling elite retain power indefinitely. Central Council should demand the recalling from Government of the ‘proposals’ while an independent expert on governance reform is hired to oversee an entirely new and objective process.
5. Why has there been no General Assembly of all members since 2005? A General Assembly is supposed to be held by the Irish Red Cross every two years but one was not held in 2007 or in 2009. Central Council should decide on a date in 2010 for a General Assembly and instruct Executive and the Acting Secretary General to begin preparations to hold it.
6. Why was the specially planned Central Council meeting scheduled for February 2010 cancelled? The November 2009 Central Council meeting decided to hold a special Council meeting in February 2010 but certain Executive members unilaterally decided to cancel it. These members to not have the authority to over ride a Central Council decision and this they must be urgently reminded of.
7. Central Council should instruct Executive to immediately open the post for a permanent Secretary General. An independent and specialised recruitment firm should be hired to oversee the process. Price WaterHouse Coopers (PWC) has been used in the past and provided a top level professional service. The Irish Red Cross has not had a permanent Secretary General since the departure of Carmel Dunne in mid 2007. The constant flux and uncertainty around the top staffing position has been very unhelpful on many levels. John Roycroft, a consummate professional, was nevertheless a temporary ‘on loan’ appointment from the Department of Justice and the current Acting Secretary General is due to be replaced in the latter half of 2010 (as per Irish Red Cross press releases last December, at the time of the two resignations of the then Chairman, David Andrews and Secretary General, John Roycroft).
8. How much money has the Irish Red Cross spent on external consultants in the last decade? How many consultants is the Irish Red Cross currently paying? At the very least there are three, in the shape of a Communications Consultant, a Web Consultant and a Human Resource/Industrial Relations Consultant (who it is understood is used on a near daily basis by the Acting Secretary General as he scrambles to fire fight the chaotic industrial relations environment that has been created over the last six months). In addition to these three consultants this Blog has been informed that all four staff made redundant in January 2010 were all re-hired immediately on consultancy contracts. This despite receiving generous redundancy packages.
9. Regarding consultants it is very important the Central Council ask who authorised the payment of over €300,000 between 2008 and 2009 to the then Consultant Acting Head of Finance (now Acting Secretary General).
10. Central Council members may or may not be aware that the Irish Red Cross owns numerous properties around the country. These properties have accumulated over the years and have mostly come into the possession of the Irish Red Cross from wills. These properties have never been recorded in the accounts of the Irish Red Cross. This is contrary to accounting practice and the Irish Red Cross has been regularly reprimanded by its auditors for failing to adhere to proper practice on this. Property bequeathed in wills must be treated as income in financial accounts. The Irish Red Cross has failed to do this. Central Council members need to get a list outlining every single property owned by the Irish Red Cross as well as each property’s address, specifications, current use and present market value. It is understood that there are in excess of eighteen/nineteen properties currently owned by the Society but not properly accounted for in the organisation’s financial accounts.
11. Regarding the above, Central Council needs to demand a detailed plan for these properties be prepared including an outline of who is managing this extensive property portfolio, is the Irish Red Cross ensuring it is earning and investing income as a result of these properties, why were these properties not sold during the housing boom and the funds re-invested in the activities of the organisation at home and overseas, how will the properties be used in the future, are all the properties adequately insured and why has this property portfolio been kept a secret for so many years. Central Council should direct Executive to immediately hire a firm of property management specialists to professionally and competently handle this matter on behalf of the Irish Red Cross.
12. For twenty five years staff and members have regularly expressed serious concern that when there are large Appeals for disasters not all funds raised go to that appeal and that a significant portion of the monies raised goes into the general accounts of the Irish Red Cross and so the wishes of the donors/public are ignored. There are newspaper articles going back as far as the mid 80’s and the 90’s raising serious questions on this matter (Irish Times 15th April 1985, Irish Times 1st May 1985, Irish Times 2nd May 1985, Irish Times 26th May 1993, Irish Times 28th February 1998, Irish Times 24th November 1999 as but examples). These concerns are as valid today as they were back then and it is the view of this Blog that any independent analysis of Irish Red Cross allocation of funds policy would reveal this practice is alive and well in addition to exposing the organisation to incalculable reputational damage. The practice, therefore, must be ended immediately.
13. Central Council should write and sign a letter to the Minister for Defence, Tony Killeen, requesting that he appoint a suitably qualified and experienced Chairperson to the Irish Red Cross immediately. The absence of a strong and respected Chair for the last six months has only served to deepen the governance and leadership crisis at the Society.
14. Central Council should support the numerous calls by Fine Gael and Labour for a full, comprehensive and detailed Independent Investigation into the affairs of the Irish Red Cross. This must be the starting point for the organisation’s recovery.
15. Central Council must demand explanations for the dramatic deterioration in relations between staff and the Acting Secretary General resulting in three appearances before the Labour Court in six months, constant meetings with trade unions on numerous issues that would previously have been handled without creating a crisis and the near permanent recruitment by the Acting Secretary General of an expensive HR/Industrial Relations Consultant to advise him on the ever deepening mess. Central Council must address the worrying atmosphere of fear that exists amongst staff at head office. Management by fear is a sure sign of failure and inability.
16. Central Council must insist on the development of an overall Irish Red Cross three or five year strategy. It is a damning indictment on the Irish Red Cross that it does not have a three or five year strategic plan but instead operates in a vacuum of ad hoc and reactive decision making lacking vision and foresight. For three years Central Council has been told the development of a strategic plan ‘is in process’ but despite the passage of time one never appears. An organisational long term strategy must be one of the top priorities for the permanent Secretary General upon his/her recruitment later this year.
This Blog wishes the Central Council members well for their meeting and deliberations on June 12th.
Friday, June 4, 2010
Minister of Defence, Tony Killeen and Labour discuss ongoing Irish Red Cross problems in Dail Eireann
On June 2nd 2010 the Irish Red Cross and its endless misgovernance and mismanagement was once again discussed in Dail Eireann. Minister of Defence, Tony Killeen, was questioned on a number of important matters pertaining to the Society. The debate can be read on the Oireachtas Debates website. The exact address is:
http://debates.oireachtas.ie/DDebate.aspx?F=DAL20100602.xml&node=H9-2#H9-2
If this does not work simply log on to www.debates.oireachtas.ie and click on Dail Debates and then click on 2nd June 2010 and scroll down to Irish Red Cross.
What is depressing for all staff and members committed to the Irish Red Cross is that the situation at the Society continues to deteriorate. The organisation is now paralysed in a state of chaos with morale and energy at an all time low. While the situation worsened dramatically during the latter half of 2009 the first half of 2010has seen the organisation reach a new low with the return of rampant staff bullying and harassment at head office and the targeting of certain members around the country.
Minister Killeen stated in the Dail that on 18th May 2010 he met the Vice Chairman and Acting Secretary General of the Irish Red Cross. This Blog presumes that by now the Minister is well briefed on the real situation at the Society. We therefore assume he understands that the Vice Chairman is the very person that kept an undeclared bank account in Tipperary with over €150,000 in it for four years and only returned the money to head office when his undeclared account was discovered in an internal audit. This money was donated by the Irish public for the Tsunami and for four years it sat in a secret bank account in Tipperary town. This is without doubt at a minimum a resigning offence but the matter was buried and only became public when the Village Magazine publicised it in late 2009. The Minister will also be aware that the current Acting Secretary General was appointed in a manner shrouded in secrecy and one devoid of any transparency. It is understood he is to be replaced in late 2010 as per previous press releases in 2009 following the resignation of the organisation's then Chairman and Secretary General. Minister Killeen is an honest and experienced politician so this Blog can only hope that he takes the views of these two men with a pinch of salt. Both men have the most to lose from even the slightest reform of the Irish Red Cross. One member this Blog spoke with said it well 'I just cringe with shame and embarrassment when I think these two individuals represented the Irish Red Cross in meetings with a Minister in the country's national parliament'
This Blog has stated on a number of occasions that the current governance proposals put forward are designed to ensure the ruling elite retain power indefinitely. The Minister must not accept them. The proposals need radical reform otherwise the problems that beset the Irish Red Cross will continue for years to come.
On a separate matter:
The Blog authors noted with all too familiarity the threatening tone of the comment posted after the previous article. It is behaviour such as this that must be resisted and removed from the Irish Red Cross once and for all. Let there be no illusions though that those determined to reform the organisation will always be targeted, bullied, harassed and threatened. This is the way it has always been. This Blog can state categorically however that the reformists will not be intimidated, they are not afraid and they will never give up.
http://debates.oireachtas.ie/DDebate.aspx?F=DAL20100602.xml&node=H9-2#H9-2
If this does not work simply log on to www.debates.oireachtas.ie and click on Dail Debates and then click on 2nd June 2010 and scroll down to Irish Red Cross.
What is depressing for all staff and members committed to the Irish Red Cross is that the situation at the Society continues to deteriorate. The organisation is now paralysed in a state of chaos with morale and energy at an all time low. While the situation worsened dramatically during the latter half of 2009 the first half of 2010has seen the organisation reach a new low with the return of rampant staff bullying and harassment at head office and the targeting of certain members around the country.
Minister Killeen stated in the Dail that on 18th May 2010 he met the Vice Chairman and Acting Secretary General of the Irish Red Cross. This Blog presumes that by now the Minister is well briefed on the real situation at the Society. We therefore assume he understands that the Vice Chairman is the very person that kept an undeclared bank account in Tipperary with over €150,000 in it for four years and only returned the money to head office when his undeclared account was discovered in an internal audit. This money was donated by the Irish public for the Tsunami and for four years it sat in a secret bank account in Tipperary town. This is without doubt at a minimum a resigning offence but the matter was buried and only became public when the Village Magazine publicised it in late 2009. The Minister will also be aware that the current Acting Secretary General was appointed in a manner shrouded in secrecy and one devoid of any transparency. It is understood he is to be replaced in late 2010 as per previous press releases in 2009 following the resignation of the organisation's then Chairman and Secretary General. Minister Killeen is an honest and experienced politician so this Blog can only hope that he takes the views of these two men with a pinch of salt. Both men have the most to lose from even the slightest reform of the Irish Red Cross. One member this Blog spoke with said it well 'I just cringe with shame and embarrassment when I think these two individuals represented the Irish Red Cross in meetings with a Minister in the country's national parliament'
This Blog has stated on a number of occasions that the current governance proposals put forward are designed to ensure the ruling elite retain power indefinitely. The Minister must not accept them. The proposals need radical reform otherwise the problems that beset the Irish Red Cross will continue for years to come.
On a separate matter:
The Blog authors noted with all too familiarity the threatening tone of the comment posted after the previous article. It is behaviour such as this that must be resisted and removed from the Irish Red Cross once and for all. Let there be no illusions though that those determined to reform the organisation will always be targeted, bullied, harassed and threatened. This is the way it has always been. This Blog can state categorically however that the reformists will not be intimidated, they are not afraid and they will never give up.
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Irish Red Cross Acting Secretary General Limerick speech raises eyebrows and serious questions
In the course of a speech during the recent Irish Red Cross National First Aid Competitions held in Limerick the Acting Secretary General of the Irish Red Cross, Declan O'Sullivan, allegedly suddenly veered off script and launched into a tirade against this Blog, its authors and bemoaned at length the problems he had to deal with at headquarters such as staffing, pensions, falling income etc. A rather stunned audience reportedly did not know where to look. Reports from Limerick suggest the Acting Secretary General was told to stop by the Vice Chairman (temporarily acting as Chairman), much to the embarrassment of all in attendance.
According to the many present who witnessed the 'speech' the Blog authors were called cowards. Apparently writing the Blog is worse than keeping a secret bank account for four years with over €150,000 collected for Tsunami victims and failing to declare or release the money until an internal audit discovered it. Apparently writing the Blog is worse than intimidating, harassing, bullying and threatening staff and members. Apparently writing the Blog is worse than scandalously wasting over €300,000 in two years on one consultant alone. Apparently writing the Blog is worse than catastrophic mismanagement over the last two and a half years and gross misgovernance over the last twenty years. Perhaps, in the view of some, writing the Blog is worse than all of the above but the Blog authors do not agree.
After the 'speech' it is reported that tension was intense between the Vice Chairman, Tony Lawlor, and the Acting Secretary General, Declan O'Sullivan. As one member told this Blog 'If anybody didnt previously know about the Blog's existence the Acting Secretary General's speech made sure they all know now. As you can imagine the Vice Chairman was furious because now everybody will be able to read in detail all about his disgraceful behaviour in keeping a secret undeclared bank account for four years. All the talk after the 'speech' was about whether the Acting Secretary General had purposely raised the Blog in such a public forum in order to 'discreetly' ensure everybody knows about the secret bank account and so put further pressure on the Vice Chairman to resign. But this would be a high risk strategy because as everyone in the Irish Red Cross knows when you upset or cross the Vice Chairman your days are numbered.... Just ask the last six Secretary Generals. Some people were of the view it was just very bad judgement on the part of the Acting Secretary General and reflective of his general inexperience. Regardless of the intentions it is reported that most people who were in Limerick, however, thought the speech was ill thought and very inappropriate'.
This Blog would like to issue a big Thank You to the Acting Secretary General for highlighting the Blog to the wider membership. We commend him for this uncharacteristic burst of transparency and we encourage him to continue in this vein. The more people within the Irish Red Cross and outside who know about it, thereby knowing the truth, the greater the likelihood that regime change will happen sooner rather than later and the rebuilding of the Irish Red Cross can finally commence.
According to the many present who witnessed the 'speech' the Blog authors were called cowards. Apparently writing the Blog is worse than keeping a secret bank account for four years with over €150,000 collected for Tsunami victims and failing to declare or release the money until an internal audit discovered it. Apparently writing the Blog is worse than intimidating, harassing, bullying and threatening staff and members. Apparently writing the Blog is worse than scandalously wasting over €300,000 in two years on one consultant alone. Apparently writing the Blog is worse than catastrophic mismanagement over the last two and a half years and gross misgovernance over the last twenty years. Perhaps, in the view of some, writing the Blog is worse than all of the above but the Blog authors do not agree.
After the 'speech' it is reported that tension was intense between the Vice Chairman, Tony Lawlor, and the Acting Secretary General, Declan O'Sullivan. As one member told this Blog 'If anybody didnt previously know about the Blog's existence the Acting Secretary General's speech made sure they all know now. As you can imagine the Vice Chairman was furious because now everybody will be able to read in detail all about his disgraceful behaviour in keeping a secret undeclared bank account for four years. All the talk after the 'speech' was about whether the Acting Secretary General had purposely raised the Blog in such a public forum in order to 'discreetly' ensure everybody knows about the secret bank account and so put further pressure on the Vice Chairman to resign. But this would be a high risk strategy because as everyone in the Irish Red Cross knows when you upset or cross the Vice Chairman your days are numbered.... Just ask the last six Secretary Generals. Some people were of the view it was just very bad judgement on the part of the Acting Secretary General and reflective of his general inexperience. Regardless of the intentions it is reported that most people who were in Limerick, however, thought the speech was ill thought and very inappropriate'.
This Blog would like to issue a big Thank You to the Acting Secretary General for highlighting the Blog to the wider membership. We commend him for this uncharacteristic burst of transparency and we encourage him to continue in this vein. The more people within the Irish Red Cross and outside who know about it, thereby knowing the truth, the greater the likelihood that regime change will happen sooner rather than later and the rebuilding of the Irish Red Cross can finally commence.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Board intervention urgently required in staff bullying and harassment crisis at Irish Red Cross HQ
This Blog has reported in many of its articles that an intense atmosphere of fear and intimidation exists at the Irish Red Cross headquarters. The current period of bullying began following the unexpected and sudden resignation of the highly regarded former Chairman, David Andrews and former Secretary General, John Roycroft, in December 2009. Information from head office has been hard to come by at times but the general consensus is that staff are being subjected to a regime of subtle but endless harassment and intimidation. This began when the ruling elite on the Executive Committee parachuted the current Acting Secretary General into the position in the absence of an open advertisement and an appointment process shrouded in secrecy. One senior Irish Red Cross member who spoke to this Blog on condition of anonymity said ‘I can confirm that staff at head office are terrified but also that they are determined to resist and will do so in equal measure to the harassment meted out to them. They are frightened of being fired and know they are all vulnerable but at the same time they have no intention of accepting such disgraceful behaviour so in their own subtle, shrewd and discreet ways will fight back. It’s not clear if senior managers are involved in the bullying or whether they also are running scared. I know many of the head office staff and they do not deserve this treatment as they are hard working and dedicated. This intimidation must be stopped. Central Council must now intervene and instruct the Acting Secretary General to refrain from such tactics before the matter explodes into the public domain. We already know three trade unions and the Labour Court are involved and recently there are rumours that staff are consulting solicitors although this has not been confirmed’.
We have also previously discussed the impact of obsession with power. The Irish Red Cross is a perfect case study in the negative consequences and also the efforts those in power will go to in order to stay in power. The bullying, mistreatment and threatening behaviour towards staff is all part of the broader campaign by the Acting Secretary General and his masters that comprise the ruling elite on the Executive Committee to remain in office. Tensions are reaching fever pitch as the midyear Central Council meeting draws ever closer on 12th June where the next Executive will be ‘elected’. It remains to be seen if the wider membership has the courage to challenge the ruling elite and once and for all rid the Irish Red Cross of the cancer at its very heart.
Surely secret bank accounts containing tens of thousands of publicly donated Euros, archaic and inept governance, incompetence, unprofessional behaviour, unqualified leaders and scandalous spending of limited funds on exorbitant consultancy fees has to be stopped?
We have also previously discussed the impact of obsession with power. The Irish Red Cross is a perfect case study in the negative consequences and also the efforts those in power will go to in order to stay in power. The bullying, mistreatment and threatening behaviour towards staff is all part of the broader campaign by the Acting Secretary General and his masters that comprise the ruling elite on the Executive Committee to remain in office. Tensions are reaching fever pitch as the midyear Central Council meeting draws ever closer on 12th June where the next Executive will be ‘elected’. It remains to be seen if the wider membership has the courage to challenge the ruling elite and once and for all rid the Irish Red Cross of the cancer at its very heart.
Surely secret bank accounts containing tens of thousands of publicly donated Euros, archaic and inept governance, incompetence, unprofessional behaviour, unqualified leaders and scandalous spending of limited funds on exorbitant consultancy fees has to be stopped?
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Questions must be asked why Minister of Defence, Tony Kileen, continues to delay appointing a Chair to the Irish Red Cross
The Irish Red Cross has been leaderless for nearly five months. It became leaderless when both the Chairman and Secretary General at the time, David Andrews and John Roycroft respectively, suddenly and unexpectedly resigned in December 2009. By any standards this should have sent alarm bells to all Irish Red Cross members and to the Irish Government. Both men are highly regarded with one considered a statesman with an impeccable political career behind him and the other a consummate professional. All those familiar with the Irish Red Cross, members, volunteers, staff, government ministries, the Charity sector in general and the International Red Cross, are now aware that the organisation is convulsed in crisis. Yet no-one seems to be doing anything about it.
Minister Tony Killeen has statutory responsibility for appointing the chairperson of the Irish Red Cross. His predecessor took no interest in the problems of the Irish Red Cross but there was hope in the air after Minister Killeen’s appointment. Minister Killeen’s failure to act decisively and appoint a well qualified and suitably experienced chairperson is only exacerbating the leadership crisis and all the other deep seated problems that now beset the Irish Red Cross. Whomever Minister Killeen eventually appoints must be energetic, capable and be prepared to rectify the rot that has taken hold of the Irish Red Cross at its governance level. Two or three specific board members need to be asked to step down and allow the next generation their chance. Questions concerning the Vice Chairman’s undeclared bank account that kept over €150,000 in it for four years, money that was intended for Tsunami victims, needs to be investigated as a matter of priority. Similarly an investigation into the rumours of maltreatment and harassment of staff (both past and present) needs to be launched before there is an industrial relations meltdown. It is a scandal that all the dedicated and hard working volunteers around the country, committed Central Council and Executive Committee members and staff continue to be served by a failed leadership at the very top. Equally scandalous is the failure by the Government to appoint a strong Chairperson.
One member speaking to this Blog said ‘the appointment of the right calibre person to the Chair is critical. If this person is not prepared to remove the ruling elite and appoint a new Secretary General then the Irish Red Cross will continue on its road to irrelevance and oblivion. We have a deeply demoralised membership and a near traumatised staff. If even a small percentage of the stories are true we are heading for the rocks. It’s all very very sad’
Minister Killeen, this Blog sincerely requests your direct intervention. We humbly ask that you launch an independent investigation into the affairs of the Irish Red Cross and that you forthwith appoint a qualified, energetic, active, determined and capable Chairperson without further delay.
Minister Tony Killeen has statutory responsibility for appointing the chairperson of the Irish Red Cross. His predecessor took no interest in the problems of the Irish Red Cross but there was hope in the air after Minister Killeen’s appointment. Minister Killeen’s failure to act decisively and appoint a well qualified and suitably experienced chairperson is only exacerbating the leadership crisis and all the other deep seated problems that now beset the Irish Red Cross. Whomever Minister Killeen eventually appoints must be energetic, capable and be prepared to rectify the rot that has taken hold of the Irish Red Cross at its governance level. Two or three specific board members need to be asked to step down and allow the next generation their chance. Questions concerning the Vice Chairman’s undeclared bank account that kept over €150,000 in it for four years, money that was intended for Tsunami victims, needs to be investigated as a matter of priority. Similarly an investigation into the rumours of maltreatment and harassment of staff (both past and present) needs to be launched before there is an industrial relations meltdown. It is a scandal that all the dedicated and hard working volunteers around the country, committed Central Council and Executive Committee members and staff continue to be served by a failed leadership at the very top. Equally scandalous is the failure by the Government to appoint a strong Chairperson.
One member speaking to this Blog said ‘the appointment of the right calibre person to the Chair is critical. If this person is not prepared to remove the ruling elite and appoint a new Secretary General then the Irish Red Cross will continue on its road to irrelevance and oblivion. We have a deeply demoralised membership and a near traumatised staff. If even a small percentage of the stories are true we are heading for the rocks. It’s all very very sad’
Minister Killeen, this Blog sincerely requests your direct intervention. We humbly ask that you launch an independent investigation into the affairs of the Irish Red Cross and that you forthwith appoint a qualified, energetic, active, determined and capable Chairperson without further delay.
Saturday, May 1, 2010
A lust for Power the root cause of crisis at Irish Red Cross
Many articles have been written by this Blog over the past few months and during this time we have spoken to numerous members up and down the country. The one question we have asked continually is ‘why is the Irish Red Cross in a perpetual state of crisis and why do the same problems constantly reappear?' Problems of governance, the departure of six Secretary Generals, five of whom were fired, in a short space of time, an appalling history of staff maltreatment, intimidation and disputes and an organisation that has stagnated and refuses to modernise. While we have received many and varied responses to this troubling question the common thread is always ‘two or three board members lust after power, they are obsessed with it, they crave it like a drug and they are prepared to do anything to retain it regardless of the consequences’. Unfortunately for the Irish Red Cross these two or three Board members have been very successful in their obsessive ambition. They finally solidified their dominance in December 2009 when they appointed, without any transparent or credible recruitment process, an individual to the position of Acting Secretary General, whose only mandate is to remove all opposition to the ruling elite and to do as instructed by the ruling elite in their quest for permanent power. As one well placed member stated ‘make no mistake about it the Irish Red Cross is run by two or three individuals who have been Board members for nearly two decades. Nobody else, whether it be the Acting Secretary General, senior managers (who continue their cowardly silence), other Executive Board members or Central Council members, has any influence or power. The Irish Red Cross is a dictatorship and like any dictatorship the ruling elite has people who do their bidding and who benefit from supporting the ruling elite. Like any dictatorship, however, there is constant opposition to it but all opposition is treated ruthlessly. The opposition has never been and will unlikely ever be killed off completely but at the same time it has yet to strike a killer blow on the ruling elite and so the crisis stumbles on from one year to the next. What is required to end this is for the ruling elite to do the decent thing and step down at the upcoming Central Council meeting and allow the next generation its chance. Of course those obsessed with power never willingly step down so lets hope there are members brave enough to put themselves forward for election. If the ruling elite refuse to step down after twenty years then they need to be elected out of office, it’s that simple’.
When the former Chairperson, David Andrews and the former Secretary General, John Roycroft, both resigned suddenly and unexpectedly in December 2009 it was stated by the Irish Red Cross in press statements that the vacancy for a permanent Secretary General would be opened in the latter half of 2010. This Blog hopes this will be the case but based on experience it has little or no confidence that the ruling elite will permit this as they know that no experienced Secretary General of calibre would allow them run the Irish Red Cross as if it was their own personal property. Any change to the status quo is a serious threat to their rule. This is also why the Minister for Defence, Tony Killeen, must stop prevaricating and delaying the appointment of a Chairperson to the Irish Red Cross. His indecision and inaction are exacerbating an already very tense and deteriorating situation.
We started this article off by touching on power and the obsessive desire some people have for it. The term ‘power’ comes from the Latin ‘Posse’: to do, to be able, to change, to influence or effect. To have power is to possess the capacity to control or direct change. All forms of leadership must make use of power. The central issue of power in leadership is not will it be used. But rather will it be used wisely and well. Unfortunately the few Board members who constitute the Irish Red Cross ruling elite fare very badly in this regard. A famous quote from Winston Churchill is applicable to these people ‘Their insatiable lust for power is only equated by their incredible impotence in exercising it’.
It is the view of this Blog that change must come from Irish Red Cross members themselves. It cannot be acceptable for instance to the thousands of Irish Red Cross members that a Board member would keep an undeclared bank account for four years with over €150,000 in it collected for Tsunami victims and only hand over the money after its discovery by an internal audit and still continue in office. We as members must insist on and demand the highest of standards.
A number of members have said to this Blog ‘we want change but we have no power’. The opinion of this Blog is that the most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don’t have any. Members do have power, they have the ultimate power, they are the ones who vote in Board personnel and therefore it is they who decide who gets elected and who does not get elected. Those in power must not be interested in power for powers sake. They must be interested in power that is moral, that is right and that is good.
Power, however it has evolved, whatever its origin, will not be given up without a struggle. This is something all Irish Red Cross reformists must be prepared for. Reformists must not weaken or lose resolve in the face of a ferocious response from the ruling elite. Those who profess to favour reform and freedom from this tyranny and yet are reluctant to take action are people who want crops without ploughing the ground; they want rains without thunder and lightning; they want the oceans without the roar of its many waves. The struggle may be a moral or legitimate one. But either way it must be a struggle. Power concedes nothing without a demand, it never has and it never will.
It has been said that nearly all men can stand adversity, from the strongest to even the weakest but if you want to test a man’s character give him power. Unfortunately the current leadership of the Irish Red Cross has failed this test.
Success is not final, failure is not fatal, it is the courage to continue that counts-Winston Churchill
When the former Chairperson, David Andrews and the former Secretary General, John Roycroft, both resigned suddenly and unexpectedly in December 2009 it was stated by the Irish Red Cross in press statements that the vacancy for a permanent Secretary General would be opened in the latter half of 2010. This Blog hopes this will be the case but based on experience it has little or no confidence that the ruling elite will permit this as they know that no experienced Secretary General of calibre would allow them run the Irish Red Cross as if it was their own personal property. Any change to the status quo is a serious threat to their rule. This is also why the Minister for Defence, Tony Killeen, must stop prevaricating and delaying the appointment of a Chairperson to the Irish Red Cross. His indecision and inaction are exacerbating an already very tense and deteriorating situation.
We started this article off by touching on power and the obsessive desire some people have for it. The term ‘power’ comes from the Latin ‘Posse’: to do, to be able, to change, to influence or effect. To have power is to possess the capacity to control or direct change. All forms of leadership must make use of power. The central issue of power in leadership is not will it be used. But rather will it be used wisely and well. Unfortunately the few Board members who constitute the Irish Red Cross ruling elite fare very badly in this regard. A famous quote from Winston Churchill is applicable to these people ‘Their insatiable lust for power is only equated by their incredible impotence in exercising it’.
It is the view of this Blog that change must come from Irish Red Cross members themselves. It cannot be acceptable for instance to the thousands of Irish Red Cross members that a Board member would keep an undeclared bank account for four years with over €150,000 in it collected for Tsunami victims and only hand over the money after its discovery by an internal audit and still continue in office. We as members must insist on and demand the highest of standards.
A number of members have said to this Blog ‘we want change but we have no power’. The opinion of this Blog is that the most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don’t have any. Members do have power, they have the ultimate power, they are the ones who vote in Board personnel and therefore it is they who decide who gets elected and who does not get elected. Those in power must not be interested in power for powers sake. They must be interested in power that is moral, that is right and that is good.
Power, however it has evolved, whatever its origin, will not be given up without a struggle. This is something all Irish Red Cross reformists must be prepared for. Reformists must not weaken or lose resolve in the face of a ferocious response from the ruling elite. Those who profess to favour reform and freedom from this tyranny and yet are reluctant to take action are people who want crops without ploughing the ground; they want rains without thunder and lightning; they want the oceans without the roar of its many waves. The struggle may be a moral or legitimate one. But either way it must be a struggle. Power concedes nothing without a demand, it never has and it never will.
It has been said that nearly all men can stand adversity, from the strongest to even the weakest but if you want to test a man’s character give him power. Unfortunately the current leadership of the Irish Red Cross has failed this test.
Success is not final, failure is not fatal, it is the courage to continue that counts-Winston Churchill
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