Kathryn Reilly (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Yes. There was some confusion on the matter. I still do not see why volunteers are being excluded from serving their community through membership of the board of directors. That is why I tabled the amendment deleting the words "or voluntary assistant". I also wish to delete lines 26 and 27. The issue has been brought to my attention recently. I accept that employees should not serve as a board member in their own credit union but the amendment relates to employees of a different credit union being a board member in another credit union.

Let us take the example of a volunteer of a credit union who builds up experience and expertise working in a credit union and who has gained employment in another credit union as a result. The Bill as currently set out would exclude such a person from fulfilling a role as board member because he or she works in another credit union. That would result in capable and valuable board members being excluded solely because of their employment. I know of one major credit union in Dublin where that would cause major problems. The provision is unnecessary and I hope the Minister of State will accept the amendment to prevent unnecessary problems.