Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 76: To ask the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the fact that some ladies clubs find that members cannot become signatories to the club accounts, as legislation requires that signatories to accounts be able to provide utility bills in their own name; if changes will be made in regulations in order that documentary evidence such as registration on the electoral register could be used by people whose utility bills are in the name of their spouse; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36650/08]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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There is no law or regulation which requires production of a utility bill by a person wishing to act as a signatory for a bank account in the circumstances referred to by the Deputy.

Section 32 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1994 requires financial institutions to take reasonable measures to identify their customers. Recommended procedures for the implementation of this provision are set out in Guidance Notes issued under the aegis of the Money Laundering Steering Committee which is chaired by the Department of Finance and includes representatives of financial services industry bodies, the regulatory authorities and State Agencies, including the Garda Siochana.

Paragraph 59 of the Guidance Notes for Credit Institutions provides that in the case of accounts to be opened for clubs and societies the identities of at least two elected officials and of two signatories on the account should be established in accordance with the guidelines set out in paragraph 45. Paragraph 45 of the Guidance Notes details the various methods which may be used to verify name and address. In the case of address verification a current utility bill is one of a number of options available to a financial institution. The other options include checking the Electoral Register, making a credit reference agency search, checking a local telephone directory or available street directory, checking notice of Determination for Tax Credit, Current Balancing Statement from Revenue Commissioners, Social Insurance documents, Current Household/Motor Insurance Documents and Revenue Commissioners C2 Tax Certificate.

Normally difficulties of the type mentioned by the Deputy are resolved by an approach from the customer to the branch management or to the bank's customer service department. The full text of the Money Laundering Guidance Notes for Credit Institutions is available on the Department of Finance website http://www.finance.gov.ie/Publications/otherpubs/monlaun.htm