IDS EGM September 2016: Statement Concerning IDS Board Members Dear Members or To Whom it may concern The Irish Deaf Society (IDS) held an election on Saturday 10th September 2016 at an EGM on the issue of replacing two Board members who had stepped down in compliance with the Governance Code. As part of the Governance Code, the IDS sought to prevent a conflict of interest where Board members Wendy Murray Jnr and Melissa Howlett were on the IDS’ payroll as tutors under the IDS’ Deaf Adult Literacy Service (DALS) program. The conflict was recognised and the board members agreed to step down following election of their replacements at the EGM. At the EGM, however, the four posts were unable to be filled. A vote was then proposed between seeking four new board members, or for two of the resigning members to stay on the board but to step down from their positions as Chairperson and Treasurer to positions of Directors. The vote decided in favour of retaining the two existing Board members and electing two new members. The decision to retain two directors of the Board follows the difficulty in finding replacements from the Deaf community, with a very limited pool to choose from, suitable and experienced members are hard to find. To ensure the continuity and prolonged work of the IDS, a compromise was arranged. One measure to ensure ethics and transparency within the decision is that these board members will not take part in any meetings or decision-making on the subject of DALS. They will still take full part in their other roles and responsibilities as Board members of the IDS. In this way, the IDS remains in compliance with the Governance Code, www.governancecode.ie under 1.3 Comply or Explain ensuring accountability and transparency by declaring this conflict of interest and moving to resolve it.