Forestry Network Newsletter

// ASI and GMIT allegations against FIE

Statement by Friends of the Irish Environment on Allegations Made by Representatives of Accreditation Services International and Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology.

It is alleged by the Managing Director of Accreditation Services International [ASI] in an email dated 3 November 2007 that Friends of the Irish Environment [FIE] filed a complaint against the representative of Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology [GMIT] Dr. Sasha Bosbeer after the Dublin Stakeholders meeting on 20^th October 2007 in order to prevent her taking up her role agreed at the Dublin Stakeholders meeting to represent the Social Chamber of the Irish Forest Certification Initiative [IFCI] at the forthcoming meeting in Bonn.

This allegation is entirely without foundation and is a gross misrepresentation of the work of Friends of the Irish Environment.

In the course of preparing a document to guide IFCI in determining open and transparent procedures for the Irish FSC Initiative

http://www.friendsoftheirishenvironment.net/cmsfiles/files/library/proceduredevelopmentproposaldraft918oct07.doc

FIE Director Caroline Lewis noted in the FSC National Initiatives Manual that it appeared that IFCI needed clarification on several points relating to chamber affiliation and general membership issues that stakeholders have raised to FIE.

On 16^th & 17^th October the Director spent some time researching the websites of several member organisations of IFCI. These included Coillte Teo., the Irish Timber Growers association [ITGA], the Society of Irish Foresters [SIF], People for Trees (Ireland) Ltd. [CRANN], Voice of the Irish Environment [VOICE], the Irish Peatland Conservation Council [IPCC], the Woodlands of Ireland [WoI], etc. This research was to inform the process in relation to stakeholders concerns about chamber affiliation. 

There were ongoing e-mail discussions between ASI/FSC and FIE on chamber affiliation. ASI's Managing Director sought a delay answering FIE's request for clarification on membership affiliation as he felt this matter would be better addressed in Bonn. On Wednesday 17^th October arrangements were made to meet with ASI in Dublin on the 20^th October before the main meeting to discuss the concerns and ambiguities.

On the same day as part of this work the Director went to the GMIT website to look at their forestry course. Finding the online prospectus frustrating to use, FIE mailed a contact address given on the GMIT website for communications.['regina.daly@gmit.ie' Wed 17/10/2007 21:58.]

‘Dear Regina.

I am writing to enquire about forestry courses.

What courses do you offer that relate to forestry and what aspects of forestry do they cover.

I look forward to hearing from you,

Caroline Lewis'

The following day, the 18^th October at 18:06 the GMIT representative on the IFCI Steering Committee informed the full IFCI Steering Committee of FIE's enquiry to GMIT by email.

The GMIT Representative alleged that

‘individuals are taking it upon themselves to investigate others in IFCI'

and went on

‘Caroline, your interest in the content of our degree programme in Forest Management and the Environment is much appreciated, but I am afraid because of the timing and the fact that you did not ask me directly, I do wonder whether you are thinking of studying with us or there was another reason.'

FIE emailed the GMIT representative on Thu 18/10/2007 at 18:55 stating that this organisation would lodge a formal complaint about the breach of confidentiality of an internal e-mail sent to GMIT unless this e-mail was withdrawn.

Subsequent e-mails clearly indicated that the e-mail would not be withdrawn therefore a complaint was lodged to GMIT [Thu 18/10/2007 21:43].

This was sent to the website address. It a misrepresentation to state that that ‘this complaint was formally sent to the Director and then to the Human Resources Department of GMIT' as does the Managing Director of ASI.

On 23^rd October the GMIT representative informed the entire IFCI committee of this complaint.

On Wednesday 31^st October FIE received a phone call from the ex-Chairman of IFCI, Woodlands of Ireland representative Declan Little, who asked if FIE would withdraw the complaint. FIE stated that its position was and had been from the outset that the organisation would withdraw its complaint if the GMIT representative withdrew the e-mails relating to the enquiry and the copy of the email sent by FIE to GMIT.

FIE stated to the Woodlands of Ireland representative that an e-mail sent to GMIT should under no circumstances have been sent to the Steering Committee of IFCI and that the GMIT representative should have contacted this organisation before misrepresenting the situation to IFCI. Woodlands of Ireland representative asked FIE to call GMIT representative. FIE stated that the GMIT representative could telephone FIE and we would be open to any discussions of the matter.

On Thursday 1^st November GMIT representative phoned FIE. Various accusations were made by this representative who alleged FIE would bring down the IFCI process if FIE's complaint was not withdrawn.

FIE explained the rationale behind the enquiry made to GMIT and again offered to withdraw the complaint if GMIT representative withdrew the e-mails sent to IFCI in relation to this matter. This offer was again refused.

On Sat 03/11/2007 17:23 the Managing Director of ASI alleged in a widely circulated email that FIE made a complaint after GMIT representative's selection for Bonn which was 'counter productive' to IFCI process in Ireland.

This is simply untrue. FIE representative complained to GMIT before the 20^th October Dublin meeting and FIE offered 3 times to withdraw the complaint about the abuse of email confidentiality if the emails in question were withdraw. 

ASI reached its conclusion and issued its email on Saturday 3 November, 2007, without ever seeking FIE's account of this matter, violating the basic principle of natural justice that the other side should be heard and giving circulation to misrepresentations of fact that have damaged our organisation in a public forum.

Friends of the Irish Environment

5.11.07