Laois man elected to lead Irish Red Cross

Former Laois TD and Government minister Charlie Flanagan has been elected to lead the Irish Red Cross which is part of the world’s leading humanitarian organisation.

The Irish wing of the global organisation said in a statement to the Leinster Express / Laois Live that it was pleased to announce the election of Charlie Flanagan as the new Chair of the Board following a vote by its General Assembly.  

A solicitor and long-serving public representative, Mr Flanagan was first elected to the Dáil in 1987 for the Laois - Offaly constituency. A member of Fine Gael, he held several senior roles, including Chair of the Fine Gael Parliamentary Party, Fine Gael Party Chief Whip, Spokesperson on Law Reform, Minister for Children, and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade. He later served as Minister for Justice before departing the Cabinet in 2020.

Most recently, the Portlaoise-based man chaired the Oireachtas Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee, where he worked extensively on humanitarian issues.

The Irish Red Cross said that, throughout his career, the Mountmellick native has maintained a deep interest in international affairs and humanitarian action. He has travelled extensively in humanitarian contexts, including to Mozambique with Irish Aid, to Ukraine on three occasions, and multiple visits to Gaza and the Middle East. He also currently volunteers on the board of a cross-border peace-keeping charity, Co-operation Ireland, where he serves as Vice-Chair.

Charlie Flanagan expressed his honour in taking on the role.

“I am proud to join the Irish Red Cross as Chair at a time of renewal and ambition. Ireland is a great country for volunteering, and the Red Cross exemplifies all that is best about civic duty and compassion. It has always been held in high regard. I look forward to listening to, learning from, and supporting our volunteers and members, whose dedication makes this organisation so special,” he said.

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He succeeds Pat Carey, who has served for three terms over nine years. Deirdre Garvey is Secretary General of the Irish Red Cross. She paid tribute to the outgoing chair and welcomed Mr Flanagan’s appointment. MORE BELOW PICTURE

Charlie Flanagan and Tánaiste Simon Harris at a function in Portlaoise to celebrate his career in politics. Pic: Renata Metelicaka

"Charlie Flanagan brings a powerful blend of domestic and international experience, a deep understanding of humanitarian issues, and a passion for volunteerism. I have no doubt he will be an outstanding Chair as we work to strengthen our services and build a more resilient, compassionate Ireland,” she said.

The Irish Red Cross says it is part of the world’s leading humanitarian organisation. It is dedicated to supporting communities in Ireland and abroad. It operates 73 branches almost nationwide in Ireland, with the support of nearly 4,000 volunteers. From disaster preparedness and emergency response to health and wellbeing support, the Irish Red Cross says it ensures communities are equipped to handle crises and recover with dignity.