Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 9 October 2024

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

Companies (Corporate Governance, Enforcement and Regulatory Provisions) Bill 2024: Committee Stage

10:00 am

Photo of Louise O'ReillyLouise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
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I have a general remark to make.

I thank the Minister of State and his officials. I hope it was noted that everyone who spoke on the Bill in the Dáil thanked the officials for their work. This is largely technical.

I had some concerns, which I outlined and hope we can address during the course of this debate. During the banking crisis, we saw the power of in-person AGMs and EGMs. I have a small concern that the provision of online meetings will dilute it. It was a powerful source of accountability as we may remember. Not only that, but there would be reduced accountability if things move and stay online unnecessarily when sometimes, while an in-person meeting might be a bit fiery, it might be what is required. It is quite hard to have a fiery exchange - I am not saying all exchanges have to be fiery - in an online environment. I hope this cannot be used to stifle debate. Will the Minister comment on that?