4 New Motions to amend Standard Rules of Credit Unions in Ireland

Motion 1

That this Annual General Meeting amends the Standard Rules for Credit Unions (Republic of Ireland) by the insertion of a new Rule 1A as follows:

Any reference in these rules to a member present and voting at a general meeting shall be construed as including a reference to a member in attendance and voting at a general meeting conducted wholly or partly by the use of electronic communications technology.

Motion 2

That this Annual General Meeting amends Rule 96 of the Standard Rules for Credit Unions (Republic of Ireland) in paragraph (1), by the substitution of “at a time, at a place in the State (where applicable) and in the manner (where applicable)” for “in the State at such date, time and place”,

And

by the insertion of a new 96A as follows:

96A (1) The credit union need not hold a general meeting at a physical venue but may conduct the meeting wholly or partly by the use of electronic communications technology as long as all attendees have a reasonable opportunity to participate in the meeting in accordance with this Rule.

(2)          (a) The credit union may provide for participation in a general meeting by providing or facilitating, for that purpose, the use of electronic communications technology, including a mechanism for casting votes by a member, whether before or during the meeting.

(b) The mechanism referred to in paragraph (a) shall not require the member to be physically present at the general meeting.

(3) The use of electronic communications technology pursuant to paragraph (2) may be made subject only to such requirements or restrictions put in place by the credit union as are necessary to ensure the identification of attendees and the security of the electronic communications technology, to the extent that such requirements or restrictions are proportionate to the achievement of those objectives.

(4) The credit union shall inform attendees, before the general meeting concerned, of any requirements or restrictions which it has put in place pursuant to paragraph (3).

(5) The credit union that provides for the use of electronic communications technology for participation in a general meeting by an attendee shall endeavour to ensure, as far as practicable, that—

(a) such technology:

(i) provides for the security of any electronic communications by the attendee,

(ii) minimises the risk of data corruption and unauthorised access, and

(iii) provides certainty as to the source of the electronic communications.

(b) in the case of any failure or disruption of such technology, that failure or disruption is remedied as soon as practicable, and

(c) such technology enables the attendee to:

(i) hear what is said by the chair of the meeting and any person introduced by the chair, and (ii) speak and submit questions and comments during the meeting to the chair to the extent that the attendee is entitled to do so under the rules of the credit union.

(6) Any temporary failure or disruption of electronic communications technology shall not invalidate the general meeting or any proceedings relating to the meeting.

(7) Unless such failure or disruption is attributable to any wilful act of the credit union, the credit union shall not be liable in respect of any failure or disruption relating to the equipment used by an attendee to access a general meeting by electronic communications technology that occurs and which failure or disruption prevents or interferes with the attendee’s participation, by the use of such technology, in the meeting.

(8) Where, in the opinion of the board of directors, it is deemed necessary, due to exceptional and unexpected circumstances, the board of directors may, by resolution, cancel a general meeting at any time prior to the holding of the meeting.

Motion 3

That this Annual General Meeting amends Rule 98 of the Standard Rules for Credit Unions (Republic of Ireland)

(a) In paragraph (2):

  • by the substitution of the following paragraph for paragraph (a): “(a) shall state the date, time, place (where applicable) and manner of holding (where applicable) of the general meeting;”,
  • in paragraph (c), by the substitution of “;” for “; and”,
  • in paragraph (e), by the insertion of “and”,
  • by the insertion of the following paragraph after paragraph (e):

“(f) shall, in the case of a general meeting proposed to be held wholly or partly by the use of electronic communications technology, state

  • the electronic platform to be used for the meeting,
  • details for access to the electronic platform,
  • where required by a credit union, the time and manner by which an attendee must confirm his or her intention to attend the meeting,
  • any requirements or restrictions which the credit union has put in place in order to identify attendees who intend to attend the meeting,
  • the procedure for attendees to communicate questions and comments during the meeting, and
  • the procedure to be adopted for voting on resolutions proposed to be passed at the meeting.”

(b) In paragraph (4), by the insertion of “and containing such information” after “in such form”.

And

by the insertion of a new Rule 98A as follows:

98 A (1) Notwithstanding Rule 98 but subject to paragraph (2), notice for the purposes of Rule 96A(8) shall be given in the same manner as the notice for the general meeting referred to in Rule 98 but where, in the opinion of the board of directors, giving such notice in that manner is not reasonably practicable, notice shall be given

(a) where the credit union has a website, on that website,

(b) by email to every member for whom the credit union has an email address, and

(c) in at least one national newspaper published in the State and circulating in the area in which the registered office of the credit union is situated, in a local paper and on local radio.

(2) Paragraph (1) shall not apply where all members agree in writing to the cancellation, change of venue or change of means of holding the general meeting concerned, or to dispensing with notice for the general meeting.”.

Motion 4

That this Annual General Meeting amends Rule 99(3)(a) of the Standard Rules for Credit Unions (Republic of Ireland) by the substitution of “paragraphs (a), (b), (d) (e) of paragraph (2)” for “paragraphs (a), (b), (d), (e), (f) of paragraph (2)”.

 

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