172 Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Defence the amount of funding allocated to the Irish Red Cross by the Exchequer each year since 2007 respectively; if the organisation receives directions from him as to the way this funding should be spent; if he receives detailed reports and accounts as to how this funding is used and expended; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43376/10]

The following are the amounts of grant-in-aid allocated to the Irish Red Cross by the Department of Defence since 2007:

2007 — € 931,000.00;

2008 — € 951,000.00;

2009 — € 951,000.00;

2010 — € 951,000.00.

The grant is paid in quarterly amounts to the Society and includes a sum of €130,000 which represents the Government's annual contribution to the International Committee of the Red Cross. The balance is used towards the administration and running costs of the Irish office.

Each year, the Society publishes its independently audited annual accounts and an Annual Report which indicate that the grant-in-aid is properly expended.

The Irish Red Cross Society is an independent statute based charitable organisation with full power to manage its own affairs. The Minister for Defence does not get involved in the day-to-day running of its affairs.

Furthermore, the Geneva Convention places an obligation on Governments to protect the independence of national Red Cross organisations.