Dáil debates

Thursday, 15 September 2022

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation

 

1:00 pm

Photo of Marc Ó CathasaighMarc Ó Cathasaigh (Waterford, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

It is a full 129 years since the Industrial and Provident Societies Bill was enacted and it remains the main legislation governing co-operative societies in Ireland. We have a proud history of co-operatives in Ireland. They play an integral role in the form of housing co-operatives, food producer co-operatives, group water schemes or locally-owned co-operative shops. On the energy side, community-owned renewable energy co-operatives helped insulate from the fluctuations in energy prices internationally and provide a cheap, clean and secure energy supply for communities. However, co-operatives have been hindered by being based on a literally Victorian-era legislative framework. We in the Green Party are delighted to see progress on the co-operative societies Bill and we have engaged with the Department at several stages on it. Will the Tánaiste provide an update on the timeline for when he expects the general scheme of that Bill to be published?

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