Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 9 Dec 1997

Vol. 484 No. 3

Written Answers. - Monitoring of Co-operative Societies.

Brendan Howlin

Ceist:

95 Mr. Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment whether an agency under her Department's auspices has responsibility for monitoring the activities of a farmers co-operative society (details supplied) in County Wexford in view of concerns which have been the subject of correspondence with her Department by and on behalf of a person (details supplied); the steps, if any, which have been taken to address these concerns; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21999/97]

Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Miss Harney)

The society in question was registered by the Registrar of Friendly Societies in November 1971 under the Industrial and Provident Societies Acts, 1893-1978.

Under these Acts, there is no function vested in any regulatory authority for the monitoring of the operations of an industrial and provident society. The onus is on a society to abide by its own registered rules. I am informed by the registrar that the rules of the society in question provide a mechanism for the resolution of internal disputes. The rules specify however that disputes shall not be referred to the Registrar of Friendly Societies. The rules also provide for the registrar to inspect the books of the society and to appoint an inspector to examine its books or to call a special meeting of the society, as provided for in the 1893 Act, on the application of a specified number of members, provided he is satisfied that the application is well-founded. I understand that no such application has been received by the registrar.

I am also informed that the member concerned was in contact with the Registry of Friendly Societies earlier this year and was advised to seek professional advice in relation to any impropriety which he thought might be going on within the society. The member also suggested that the number of members in the society has been reduced below the statutory minimum of seven. I understand that this matter is being pursued by the registrar, along with the matter of the society's outstanding annual returns.