Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 27:

In page 19, to delete lines 32 to 34 and substitute the following:
“(a) an employee of the credit union;”.

The section is harsh as it relates to the proposed exclusions to prevent people from becoming directors. My amendment relates to voluntary assistants serving on the board of another credit union. People who act as volunteers in credit unions embody the ethos of the movement better than anybody else and if they are prepared to serve on the board of the credit union for which they work on a voluntary basis, that should be embraced and supported and I cannot understand why they are specifically excluded. I can understand the logic of not allowing a credit union employee to serve on a board up to a point but I cannot understand why a voluntary assistant should not be allowed to do so. I equally cannot understand how a voluntary assistant or employee of a credit union should not be allowed to serve on the board of another credit union. I do not agree with this logic but I will listen to the Minister's arguments in this regard.