Please ensure you have read the special statement about the future of the Governance Code, as published by the Governance Code Working Group in May 2019, prior to reading on further.
What was the Governance Code?
The Governance Code was a resource that was developed to assist community, voluntary and charity (CVC) organisations develop their overall capacity in terms of how they run their organisation. It was a voluntary code provided free to all boards/committees/ executives of not-for-profit groups to encourage them to check themselves against best practice in the management of their affairs.
The Code was put together by people with extensive experience in the CVC sector and it takes account of the different types of organisations which exist in the diverse world of volunteering across the country.
How was the Governance Code managed?
The Code was first developed between 2010 and June 2012 by a group of individuals drawn from a range of national organisations who came together under the shared vision of creating the resource that is the Governance Code.
The Code was put together by people with extensive experience in the CVC sector and it takes account of the different types of organisations which exist in the diverse world of volunteering across the country.
How was the Governance Code managed?
The Code was first developed between 2010 and June 2012 by a group of individuals drawn from a range of national organisations who came together under the shared vision of creating the resource that is the Governance Code.
Since its inception, the group worked under the banner of ‘The Governance Code Working Group’ (GCWG) not only to develop the Code but to ensure it remained relevant to the sector and the wider Irish society.
The GCWG was made up of representatives of eight national organisations and one private sector consultancy who have worked on a voluntary basis on the process. The members had a wide base of contact with the whole Community, Voluntary and Charities (CVC) sector.
The GCWG met regularly to oversee the adoption of the Code by the sector and to address any issues that arose, including communications, promotion, technical matters for interpretation and engagement with stakeholders. It engaged with the CVC sector and in the public and business spheres. The GCWG also had sub-committees on Communications, Technical and Resourcing matters.
The organisations from which the members were drawn also provide funding for necessary costs which were kept to a minimum.
Prior to the special statement issued by the GCWG in May 2019, its membership was as follows:
The GCWG was made up of representatives of eight national organisations and one private sector consultancy who have worked on a voluntary basis on the process. The members had a wide base of contact with the whole Community, Voluntary and Charities (CVC) sector.
The GCWG met regularly to oversee the adoption of the Code by the sector and to address any issues that arose, including communications, promotion, technical matters for interpretation and engagement with stakeholders. It engaged with the CVC sector and in the public and business spheres. The GCWG also had sub-committees on Communications, Technical and Resourcing matters.
The organisations from which the members were drawn also provide funding for necessary costs which were kept to a minimum.
Prior to the special statement issued by the GCWG in May 2019, its membership was as follows:
Organisation |
Member |
Chair |
Boardmatch Ireland |
Eva Gurn |
|
Business in the Community |
Shane Mulchrone |
|
Carmichael Centre for Voluntary Groups |
Diarmaid Ó Corrbuí |
Chairperson 2013 - 2016 |
Charities Institute Ireland |
Liz Hughes |
|
Clann Credo |
Senan Turnbull |
|
Corporate Governance Association of Ireland |
Alacoque Mc Menamin |
|
Disability Federation Ireland |
Dermot O'Donnell |
|
Good Governance Solutions |
Alan McDonnell |
|
Volunteer Ireland |
Nina Arwitz |
Chairperson 2016 - present |
The Wheel |
Deirdre Garvey |
Chairperson 2010 - 2013 |
Earlier members of the GCWG:
Further information on these organisations in available HERE.
You can view the Working Group’s Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) HERE.
Click on the headings below for a detailed chronology of the development of the Code.
- Arthur Cox Solicitors - Philip Smith
- Boardmatch - Chris White, Fidelma Keogh & Philip O'Sullivan
- Business in the Community - Ann Howgego
- Carmichael Centre - Derek O’Reilly, Eva Battles
- Clann Credo - Paul O’Sullivan
- Sheila Cahill Consulting - Sheila Cahill
- Volunteer Ireland - Yvonne Mc Kenna
Further information on these organisations in available HERE.
You can view the Working Group’s Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) HERE.
Click on the headings below for a detailed chronology of the development of the Code.