Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am a huge advocate for the co-operative movement, as the Deputy knows. I worked in the credit union movement, which is one of the greatest co-operative movements across the country. Responsibility for that lies with the Department of Finance. I am responsible for the legislation but we support co-operative movements as businesses through LEOs and through Enterprise Ireland. Supports do exist. I will get the Deputy the information about how many co-operatives have received help. If he wants to come to talk to us about this, I would be happy to sit down and have a conversation with him about the co-operative sector. I believe they do wonderful work in this country when supported. They take up the slack when other businesses might not want to. They provide a good service. There is a voluntary board and while people working in it get their wages, it is not for profit. I think it is a great principle but my role as Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation relates to legislation.

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