Irish Red Cross

FlutterinBantam

I heard a honcho from the IRC defending the slow payout of monies to those who suffered in the recent floods on Today with PK.

In the course of this interview Kenny queried the amount of money (donations) paid to external consultants before any action is taken.

As disbursers under a certain Govt. aegis of relief funds, this made me think if this is a suitable organisation to contribute to.

Too slow too cumbersome and way too dependent on outside consultancy firms to buttress my fading confidence in it .

Needs a closer looking into ,judging from what I heard of the interview, although no doubt doing some very good work.

I'd be a bit wary after hearing that.

Cannibal Ox

I think there are a few problems internally within the Irish Red Cross. Questions about governance and finance were raised in the Dail around October as well as last month, and there chairman stepped down in November following an internal governance review (which should see some restructuring within the Red Cross).

I'd swear I read something else recently about questions around how money was being used by the Irish Red Cross but I can't seem to find any articles about it.

Around spending in general, it can be difficult to shift money if there isn't any apparent programs to put it in to, and you really don't want to plough money in to the first program that comes along unless you're sure it's going to be effective. That's all in general, I've no idea of the specifics of this.

Governance

For a detailed understanding of the very extensive and deep rooted problems in the Irish Red Cross visit the following blog:

http://governancereformatirishredcross.blogspot.com

This site provides a comprehensive overview of the problems

UltimateMale

I think the Red Cross Internationally have come under a lot of criticism down the years for beaurarcy etc. Too many chiefs and not enough Indians sort of thing.

Governance

Well whatever about the International Red Cross which has a very proud reputation the Irish Red Cross is extremely badly governed and managed. Fine Gael and Labour have both very recently called on the Taoiseach in the Dail to launch an independent investigation into the affairs of the Irish Red Cross. This they would not have done if they were not genuinely concerned and also if they did not have information to cause that concern. The problem with the Irish Red Cross is not the Indians but the incompetent Chiefs. Time for them to step aside and allow the next generation take over.

skearon

FlutterinBantam wrote: »

I heard a honcho from the IRC defending the slow payout of monies to those who suffered in the recent floods on Today with PK.

In the course of this interview Kenny queried the amount of money (donations) paid to external consultants before any action is taken.

As disbursers under a certain Govt. aegis of relief funds, this made me think if this is a suitable organisation to contribute to.

Too slow too cumbersome and way too dependent on outside consultancy firms to buttress my fading confidence in it .

Needs a closer looking into ,judging from what I heard of the interview, although no doubt doing some very good work.

I'd be a bit wary after hearing that.

My house was flooded mid January, applied to the Red Cross a month later, had a letter within a week, a chap called out two weeks after that, and had a cheque 3 weeks after that. That's certainly not a 'slow payout'

Governance

The money raised by the Irish Red Cross and donated by the Irish public was actually for the victims of flooding in November. So if someone's house or home was flooded in November and according to Irish Red Cross cheques were only issued in mid March that IS a slow response. Most people had to wait nearly four months from the time of flooding to the time they received their 'emergency' funding. By the way have you read the Irish Red Cross blog article on

http://governancereformatirishredcross.blogspot.com

There is an article saying that becasue of mistakes made by the Irish Red Cross your cheque is liable to income tax. I hope the article is wrong but perhaps you would need to get clarity from your local tax office on this.

kevkev56

What a mess this organisation is in?? Spending donors' donations in High court action to 'discover' the whistleblower in their organisation - and the Red Cross is supposed to be a defender of free speech. Its not as if the whistleblower was saying anything wrong - hidden accounts (or 'lying in a bank account' as per Fr Ted), factional fighting, board resignations, etc etc. No wonder they don't have time to give money to those who need it.

There are plenty of other worthy charities to give money to, until such time as the top tier of the IRC is sorted. The people on the ground - the workers and volunteers - must be totally dismayed at the behaviour of their 'superiors'.

Don't be surprised if the International Red Cross disown them, they are certainly distancing themselves from the Irish organisation.

Nodin

Governance wrote: »

For a detailed understanding of the very extensive and deep rooted problems in the Irish Red Cross visit the following blog:

http://governancereformatirishredcross.blogspot.com

This site provides a comprehensive overview of the problems

I thank you for the link. Having worked in a dysfunctional organisation myself, I have to say it reads to me as all too true.

DeVore

Unfortunately it gets worse.... they are now sueing Google (a corporate donator to both the International Red Cross and the Irish Red Cross) for the identities of people who posted comments on that blog!!

This was posted today:
http://governancereformatirishredcross.blogspot.com/2010/10/irish-red-cross-to-continue-its-legal.html


Will they come after Boards now too?? Good luck...

DeV.