Citizen Journalism: postings by Michelle Clarke and KT stating clearly the need for proper corporate governance in the Charity Non Governmental organisation sectors

In the last 24 hours we are witnessing the slow melt down in the Irish economy:  The McInerney group have just sought high court protection for debts in excess of 200 million euros; we also are witnessing the collapse of Aer Arann with debts in the region of 17 m euros plus.

In today’s newspapers, the two high fliers of Bertie’s Tiger (or the illusion of) Johnnie Rohan and Richard Barrett now admit they can’t meet their repayments in relation to their debts of 2 billion euros.  It is reported repayments are 3.8 m euros per month.  We have seen in the last year the collapse of McNamara, Paddy Happy Kelly and the rest.  The High Court has now a queue probably to put it in physical terms of 1.5 kilometres of people and the smallest debt among them is probably in the region of 1.5 m euros going up to the once God’s of Irish society who owe in excess of 2.2 billion euros.  Yet the ESB will cut off an ordinary Irish citizen for a debt of 500 euros.  Yet Eircom will cut off a woman with disabilities for doing no wrong but standing up for what she is entitled to on 9 medications a day and her phone is now off for almost 10 months.

In the meantime, my question today is:  Charities.  Yes.  The word Charity means – to give, to help, to care, to understand, to listen.  Let us see what Charity actually means in morally bankrupt Ireland.  I will start with Mr. Ringrose:  I believe he stood down sometime ago.  A former Garda Supt. with a fine pension and yet in his tenure he could take down the salary of over 150,000 euros.  Angela Kerins in Rehab will not disclose her salary to the Irish taxpayer – to me this is contempt.  Her salary is alleged to exceed 200,000 euros excluding expenses.  Then we have people who work in various organisations to help people with disabilities.  Again their salaries – who really knows! 

Take Suicide Prevention, Mental Health e.g. (Aware, Grow), Enable Ireland, Carmichael House and the representative groups under this umbrella.  Yes, we do not doubt the incredible work that is carried out by people involved in these organisations and non governmental agencies but are we the people of Ireland in recession assured that transparency, ethics, accountability i.e. that ‘corporate governance’ effect we are seeking from other companies, is present in these organisations including charities and Non Governmental organisations.  I have noted the prominent position of ‘Donations’ each time one enters the web site (but then maybe I am the cynicial person).

Last night on Prime Time, the Irish Red Cross was discussed: the low moral among staff was highlighted.  It talked about financial mismanagement.  It talked about personality clashes, it talked about an urgent change in Governance structures but sadly then FF entered the arena and Minister Tony Killeen said ‘we will have shortly the Downer group recommendations’.  This again is more more and cock and bull……we need accountability, we need transparency and we need to know the hidden faces of the fat cats that make small fortunes on the backs of vulnerable people and children across the Island of Ireland and they use the word Charity as a moral balaclava.

I am sick as an Irish taxpayer to the core watching Prime Time last night.  I am sick that all of the Downs Syndrome children in Ireland this year experience extreme cut backs this year.  I am sick to read of the drop-in centres for people trying to get off illegal drugs being closed down throughout Ireland.

Yet, the Fat Cats hide behind their right of not telling the Irish taxpayer the hundreds of thousands they earn annually.

I ask one question today – Could somebody out there have the moral courage to give me the true meaning of the word Charity.

Thank you:

KT

Quotation:
Speaking Out
‘We who have a Voice must be a voice for the Voiceless!
Oscar Romero (1917-80) El Salvadorean Archbishop of Salvador who was assassinated for speaking out
against government sanctioned death squad activities.

Thu Apr 21, 2011 16:37

Charities, NGOs and Aid

Shame and the Shameless –

Part III Angela Kerins in this weeks Phoenix magazine

by Michelle Clarke

Liam Flannery is right to highlight this outrageous alleged payment of public finances to a woman working for people with disabilities.

The country is awash with charities and no transparency, ethics, accountability or moral compass for that matter. The web has distinct advantages but not when it acts as a motivator to pay donations and exploit people and their needs at the same time. Think of a vulnerability category e.g. suicide and there are now a host of websites and you will note on each of them the prominence of the word ‘donation’ and details. What about humanity and contact with no cost? Where is value in this society i.e. the value that is not related to financial costing?

Is there a gravy train in motion on this Island of Ireland. Perhaps we have learned same from our EU masters?

Our world today is facing massive social and political upheaval. Aid is destined to places like Libya, to Nigeria, to the Ivory Coast not forgetting Haiti and even Japan. There is an international community relating to this aid: in our case, the EU external aid budget that amounts to euros 12 billion p.a.

You might find it interesting to note that a UK think tank have found that the EU’s aid budget suffers from ‘poor accountability, un-necessary bureaucracy, and most critically, less than half the money spent actually goes to the world’s poorest people’.

What this is saying to people is that we need to question more; not to be afraid to ask for value for money exercises and seek transparency and accountability at each tier of the charity chain. Ireland can benefit from this UK research and also can question the efficiency of the EU and its auspices to ensure we are receiving a fair deal for what we contribute to this fund for external aid.

We are in a tight space now economically, socially, politically and we need to get VALUE FOR MONEY FOR OUR AID SPENDING both in the context of EU external aid and most particularly on the home front. Corruption is invideous and we must stamp it out for a more equal society.

Sweet Charity!!

by Michelle Clarke

Quotation

Too many have dispensed with generosity in order to practice charity.

Albert Camus