asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce the functions carried out by the Registrar of Friendly Societies in relation to building societies.
Written Answers. - Registrar of Friendly Societies.
30.
The functions of the Registrar of Friendly Societies in regard to building societies are prescribed for him under the Building Societies Acts, 1874 to 1974 and by various Regulations made under these Acts.
In summary, the registrar's principal functions could be classified under the following broad headings:
(i) registration of rules and amendments to rules and other matters and issue of certificate of incorporation; (ii) prescription of annual return forms to be completed by building societies, and examination of the returns when made; (iii) settlement of any disputes referred to him for an award where the parties to any dispute arising in a society agree to refer the dispute to the registrar; and (iv) submission of an annual report, including statistical information relating to building societies, to the Minister for laying before the Oireachtas.
In addition, the registrar has certain powers provided for him under the Acts which include the power, in certain circumstances, to appoint an accountant or actuary to inspect the books of a building society and to report thereon; the power, in certain circumstances, to appoint an inspector to examine into and report on the affairs of a society or to call a special meeting of the society; and the power, in certain circumstances, to cancel or suspend the registry of a building society.