Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 30 Jun 1998

Vol. 493 No. 3

Written Answers. - Consumer Co-operatives.

John Gormley

Ceist:

97 Mr. Gormley asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment whether her attention has been drawn to the work of the SEIKATSU Consumer Co-operative of Japan which was represented at the recent conference of the International Co-operative Alliance as well as with representatives from the co-operative movement in 21 countries world-wide; the proposals, if any, she has to provide for the registration of consumers co-operatives as an entity in their own right; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15860/98]

Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Mr. Treacy)

I am not familiar with the organisation mentioned by the Deputy, but would welcome any information which he has about it.

There is no separate category of consumer co-operatives, under the Industrial and Provident Societies Acts, 1893-1978, under which co-operatives are registered by the Registrar of Friendly Societies. The only means of identifying them is if the term consumer co-operative is included in their title. The Registrar tells me that at present there is no active society registered as a consumer co-operative.

Last January, our Department invited submissions from a wide range of interests on the question of amending these Acts. As I plan to bring legislative proposals to Government in the coming months, I would welcome any ideas which the Deputy may wish to contribute to our deliberations in this general area.