Dr. Olive McCarthy:

I am very influenced by a member of a co-operative who contacted me a number of years ago. His co-operative had decided to sell itself and shut down. This member was distraught when we spoke on the phone because he had not attended the AGM and did not know what was proposed. He only found out a few days later that the co-op was now effectively gone. He was extremely upset about it. The co-op was very important to his livelihood. He came to me to know whether he had any recourse. I sent him to ICOS and am sure he received plenty of support there but the sentiment in the Bill is to protect members and especially their livelihoods. From that point of view, this section of the Bill needs very careful consideration with a view to the sentiment or principle of protecting members. That is where we have fallen down in ensuring no members are left feeling disenfranchised. It is about ensuring there is a second opportunity for them to come back, have their views heard and make their votes count as well. That is essentially where we are coming from.