Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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Question 223: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if his attention has been drawn to the fact that 93 industrial and provident societies have failed consecutively for the past five years to submit annual returns to the Registry of Friendly Societies; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the non-filing of annual returns constitutes an offence under the Industrial and Provident Societies Acts; the number of consecutive years a society may fail to submit such returns before the Registry of Friendly Societies decides to implement the law and cancel the registration of such societies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30877/11]

Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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Question 239: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if his attention has been drawn to the fact that societies registered by the Registrar for Friendly Societies are required by law to file an annual return with the Registry of Friendly Societies no later that the 31 March each year and that the non-filing of annual returns constitutes an offence under the Industrial and Provident Societies Acts; if he will list the name and address of each society registered by the Registrar for Friendly Societies under the Industrial and Provident Societies Acts which has failed to file an annual return for the years 2008, 2009 and 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31552/11]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 223 and 239 together.

As evidenced by previous replies to the Deputy in relation to this matter over the last 4 weeks (replies dated 20, 27 and 28 September and 11 October refer) I am aware that a number of Industrial and Provident societies have failed to file annual returns to the Registry of Friendly Societies, and of the legislative position with regard to same.

The initiation of enforcement action is a matter for the Registrar of Friendly Societies, and I have previously advised the Deputy that the Registrar is now considering such action in respect of Industrial and Provident societies, following on from targeted enforcement campaigns in 2010 and 2011 of Friendly Societies and Trade Unions.

It is not the practice of the Registrar to publish lists of societies in instances where enforcement action is under consideration. In the event that enforcement action is taken against a society notice is published in Iris Oifigiúil, and in the next subsequent Annual Report of the Registrar of Friendly Societies, which lists societies that are cancelled during that year. The Registry also holds the individual file of each society, the information on which is available for inspection by the public. It is open to the Deputy to make enquiries to the Registry of Friendly Societies regarding any individual named society.