James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I apologise for coming in somewhat out of sequence. I appreciate the opportunity. I welcome that the Bill is passing Final Stage. It was a significant tranche of work, as has been mentioned by Deputies who have spoken.

I saw this up close in my constituency of Kildare North, where we had significant restructuring. What was Naas Credit Union expanded into Maynooth at the time of the trouble with Newbridge Credit Union. Then the Croí Laighean Credit Union incorporated much of north-west Kildare. There was fear, uncertainty and doubt among the members of those credit unions and the general public at the time. I imagine that was mirrored in many other parts of the country. However, there is a happy ending. It has got to a stage where those credit unions are stronger, better resourced, better funded and on a stronger footing with the fitness and probity and compliance regulations now in place. The board members were typically people of good character and ethos and the work was voluntary in nature. The extra scrutiny and vigilance now in force benefits everyone. It is a credit to the boards and to people like William O'Donovan and Peter Fullam in Naas Credit Union as the credit union expansion across the county was met with some trepidation. However, it was the right thing to do. I credit the board and all involved. The fact that it is now at the stage where its work is done and it can be stood down is a success in itself.

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