Sinn Féin has announced the appointment of a new external HR manager after a review of the party’s governance procedures, initiated by the McMonagle scandal.
Former Sinn Féin press officer Michael McMonagle was jailed last year for child sex offences, and it was revealed that two serving press officers at the party provided references for McMonagle whilst he was under investigation.
The review was conducted by their new General Secretary, Sam Baker, and it focused on four core areas: disciplinary procedures, human resource management, safeguarding guidelines and corporate governance.
In a statement released on Tuesday, Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald said the party is “committed to ensuring the highest level of governance” and that “party management, staff and members are all aware of their responsibilities.”
“The party has appointed a new HR Manager and introduced a new post of Director of National Corporate Governance, who will be responsible for driving forward corporate governance, statutory compliance, and management processes within the party,” she said.
“A Governance Hub has also been put in place, under the General Secretary which involves senior managers with responsibility for HR, safeguarding and child protection, discipline, training, financial regulation and data protection. It held its inaugural meeting earlier this month.”
In addition, the party says an “independent HR expert was commissioned to undertake an audit and offer recommendations for improving the Sinn Féin HR employee handbook in the South of Ireland.”
Their new HR manager has been tasked with “creating a corresponding version for the North of Ireland”, with both documents then being merged into a single document.
Sam Baker, Sinn Féin General Secretary, said in his report: “This is a process of continuous improvement as we work to modernise and professionalise the party as a national voluntary organisation, in accordance with standards and practice that are rightly demanded by our membership, workers, and the Irish public whom we serve.”
