These are the Board minutes from 8th March 2018
We are happy to publish the minutes of our Board meetings so that Board activities and decisions are accountable. There is always a delay between the meeting held and the publication of the minutes. This is because the minutes must be approved before they can be published. Minutes are approved at the meeting after the meeting they are a record off. For example, if a Board meeting is held in March and the next meeting is held in April, the minutes of the March meeting will not be on the website until after the April meeting.
Present: David O’Callaghan, Damian Casey, Frances Harrington, Francis Treanor, Katherine Finn
Apologies: Tom Daly, Patricia Carey, David Yeomans (Secretary)
In attendance: Rachel Downes, Sinéad Fennell, Siobhán Kane, Caitríona Ní Mhurchú, Sinead Dwyer, Lucy Kenny (minute taker)
| Item No: | Item | Discussion | Decision / Action | Time |
| 1. | Quorum, Apologies and Conflicts of Interest Declarations | The Chair noted that there was a quorum present and that apologies had been received from three members who were unable to attend. | ||
| 2. | Minutes | Approval of the Minutes of the last meeting held on 1st February 2018 to be held over to next board meeting | Minutes to be approved at next meeting | |
| 3. | Matters Arising not on the Agenda | There were no matters arising other than those on the Agenda. | ||
| 4. | Report on Applications | Copies of the Report on Applications were circulated.
We continue to receive a steady stream of new applications, there are 275 applicants awaiting initial assignment. There are 278 repeat applications awaiting reassignment, of which 104 have received under €15,000. |
Breakdown of age and gender of new applicants to be provided | Next Board Meeting |
| 5. | Report from Executive | Copies of the Executive Report were circulated
Staffing Interviews for the following positions to be conducted before end of March.
Proposal for additional staffing currently with Department of Education & Skills, awaiting decision. Meeting Room Space The one to one meeting space is now available. However, the air conditioning has still not working in the room. OPW are to revert regarding when this will be completed. Training will be organised for staff and initial schedule for one to one meetings with applicants to be agreed Integrated Telephone System The new telephone system to replace old faulty system should be operational shortly. Annual Meeting with the Minister As set out in the SLA with the Department, the Chair and Acting CEO will be requesting a meeting with the Minister shortly. Annual Report 2017 Draft copy to be completed by end of March Communications Outreach & Engagement Outreach events to be organised both here and in the UK. Liaising with the Irish Association for the Social Integration of Offenders to facilitate outreach work in prisons in Ireland. |
Director of Services to arrange
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| 6. | Correspondence & PQ’s | Parliamentary Questions were reviewed.
Correspondence received was held over to the next meeting |
Correspondence received to be review at next meeting |
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| 7. | Governance Matters | Hold over to next meeting | Review at next meeting | |
| 8. | Finance & Risk Matters | Caranua are awaiting C&AG to revert with outstanding items under 2016 audit. | Director of Finance to follow up | |
| 9. | Board Membership | Letters of resignation from Dr. Mary Lodato and Thomas Cronin were circulated.
The Chairperson expressed regret at the loss of the Board Members, but the Board refute the statements that were made by the former Board Members. A note to this effect was added to the Caranua website on 22nd February 2018. The Minister will appoint new members in due course. It was noted that the role and functions of the Board forms part of the induction process for any new members and a full induction will be scheduled once appointments are made. |
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| 10. | Recruitment Discussion | Held over to next meeting | ||
| 11. | A.O.B. | The Chair expressed thanks and best wishes on behalf of the Board to Siobhan Kane, as outgoing Head of Communications and Engagement.A request made to Chair by Simon McCarthy (Coventry Irish Society) to meet with the Board in April. It was agreed that this meeting would be included as part of the overall information meetings that will be arranged with survivor groups. | ||
| 12. | Next Meeting | The next meeting of the Board will be held on April 12th at 10.30 a.m |