James Reilly (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank our guests for their presentations. I would like to raise a couple of issues. Dr. McCarthy in addressing the issue raised by Senator Mac Lochlainn went some way towards addressing an issue I want to raise. Obviously, one size does not fit all. A workers co-operative is a very different entity to an agricultural co-operative or a retail co-operative.

The point has been made that when they start, they start small. Perhaps then some of the concerns raised could be addressed by some of the terms and conditions for exemptions. In other words, the number of members in a co-operative would be influenced by its turnover. As the co-operative gets bigger, the minimum number has to increase. This Bill seeks to ensure that a workers co-operative can start and benefit from co-operative status such that innovation and enterprise is not limited only to those who have money to invest. We need to encourage the worker-owned co-operative principle, which is a good principle.

On the innovation voucher, as I do not know much about it the witnesses might elaborate further on it and explain why start-up co-operatives do not qualify for it but businesses do. Auditing and filing accounts is an integral part of any business. Auditing is very expensive and so the criteria around it obviously need to be reviewed. This could be addressed in the Bill through amendments. Filing of accounts is a must. Everyone in business or involved in a co-operative should concern themselves with ensuring that accounts are being recorded properly and that there is no room for issues arising, as has happened all too often in this country in so many different organisations, big and small. People need to be protected. Not everybody in a co-operative, small or big, is gifted with the expertise to spot problems arising, and so they depend on professionals for it. I would welcome more information on the innovation voucher and so on.