Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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Question 205: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if an organisation (details supplied) in County Sligo is registered with the Registry of Friendly Societies; if this organisation has met its statutory obligation regarding the filing of annual returns; if the annual returns for 2009 and 2010 have been filed to date; if the Registry of Friendly Societies has an obligation to ensure that registered organisations meet their statutory obligations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24651/11]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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The position in relation to the society referred to by the Deputy is that the society was registered by the Registrar for Friendly Societies on 25 June 2007, under the Industrial and Provident Societies Acts 1893-1978. This legislation requires that societies file an annual return with the Registry of Friendly Societies no later than the thirty-first of March each year. I am informed that the last year for which an annual return has been filed with the Registry of Friendly Societies (RFS) by the society referred to is in respect of the year 2008. The annual returns for the years 2009 and 2010 have not been filed to date.

This information is available on the public file of each society, which includes details of registration, the rules of the society and its annual returns, and is available for inspection at the Registry of Friendly Societies. The Registry of Friendly Societies issues timely notification to registered societies to file annual returns, and in respect of those societies that fail to file on time, subsequent reminders issue. The non-filing of annual returns constitutes an offence under the Industrial and Provident Societies Acts. Provision also exists under the Industrial and Provident Societies Acts for cancellation of the registration of such societies. In this regard the Registrar has cancelled societies in the past for failure to file annual returns and the position in relation to those societies who have outstanding annual returns is kept under review.