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Minister with Responsibility for Defence, Mr. Paul Kehoe, T.D., was guest of honour today (Saturday 6th May 2017) at the Irish Red Cross Volunteer of the Year, where he presented awards to the Irish Red Cross Volunteer of the Year Award and Young Volunteer of the Year.

Minister Kehoe commended the Irish Red Cross on their achievements and capabilities both at home and abroad, including first aid training, health promotion in Irish prisons and the vital assistance they are providing in accommodating and supporting Syrian refugees arriving in Ireland.

The awards offer an opportunity to recognise the work being done by Irish Red Cross volunteers in local communities around the country. The Minister said “I have regular contact with volunteers from the Irish Red Cross, Civil Defence and the Army and Naval Service Reserve. I have the utmost admiration and respect for people who devote their spare time to their local communities. The work of the Irish Red Cross is only possible because of its extensive and very committed network of volunteers.”

Acknowledging the Irish Red Cross Award for young volunteers and youth achievement, Minister Kehoe remarked that “It is a sign of a healthy and vibrant organisation that you can attract young people to give up their free time to become volunteers, when there are so many other distractions.”

Minister Kehoe also expressed his gratitude to the Irish Red Cross for the administration and distribution of emergency humanitarian funds on behalf of Government to small businesses, community, voluntary and sporting organisations that had their premises damaged as result of devastating flooding in 2015-2016.

The Minister concluded by saying that “events like this and the celebration of National Volunteer week, which commences on 15th May 2017, afford us with an important opportunity to recognise the commitment and achievement of volunteers in Irish Society.”