Paddy Burke (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State back to the House. I have some brief questions for him. First, I welcome the legislation. With regard to the European Union facility included in the Bill, is this specifically for the credit unions or does it apply to many other institutions? Does it apply to all institutions that are lending? Do the main banks here already have that facility and is the Minister of State extending it to other institutions such as the credit union?

Second, with regard to holding meetings, whether it is through Zoom, Webex or whatever platform is used, has any thought gone into whether people could be eavesdropping, for want of a better word? A member could be online and there could be somebody else who may have a vested interest and who could have set up a scenario to get information to which he or she is not entitled. Most annual general meetings are only for members or for a certain number of people who are entitled to attend. In a case where meetings are held through a platform between various parts of a county or town, is there any provision in case anything untoward may happen? There is always something that can happen, such as the leaking of information. For example, there might be bad debts being discussed. Some people might have bad debts and their names may come up at an annual general meeting or the like. Would there be cover for the committee members? The chairman of the meeting, in particular, could be left exposed to anything happening in that regard.

Aside from that, I welcome the legislation and wish the Minister of State well.