Credit Union Act, 1997

• Permanent Page URL

Production of documents and evidence.

150.—(1) It shall be the duty of all persons who are, or at any material time were, officers, members, voluntary assistants or agents of a credit union to which an examiner has been appointed to produce to the examiner all books and documents of or relating to the credit union which are in their possession or power, to attend before him when required so to do and otherwise to give to him all assistance in connection with his functions which they are reasonably able to give.

(2) If the examiner considers that a person other than one falling within subsection (1) is or may be in possession of any information concerning the affairs of the credit union the examiner may require that person to produce to him any books or documents in that person's possession or power relating to the credit union, to attend before him and otherwise to give him all assistance in connection with his functions which that person is reasonably able to give; and it shall be the duty of that person to comply with the requirement.

(3) If the examiner has reasonable grounds for believing that a person who is, or at a material time was, an officer, member, voluntary assistant or agent of a credit union maintains or has maintained a bank account of any description, whether alone or jointly with another person and whether in the State or elsewhere, into or out of which there has been paid—

(a) any money which has resulted from or been used in the financing of any transaction, arrangement or agreement particulars of which have not been disclosed in the accounts of the credit union for any financial year as required by law; or

(b) any money which has been in any way connected with any act or omission, or series of acts or omissions, which on the part of that officer, member, voluntary assistant or agent constituted misconduct (whether fraudulent or not) towards the credit union or its members;

the examiner may require the person concerned to produce to him all books and documents in his possession or under his control relating to that bank account; and in this subsection “bank account” includes an account with any person exempt by virtue of section 7 (4) of the Central Bank Act, 1971 , from the requirement of holding a licence under section 9 of that Act.

(4) An examiner may examine on oath, either by word of mouth or on written interrogatories, any person who is, or at a material time was, an officer, member, voluntary assistant or agent of the credit union or any other such person as is mentioned in subsection (2) in relation to the affairs of the credit union and may—

(a) administer an oath accordingly; and

(b) reduce the answers of any such person to writing and require him to sign them.

(5) If any such person as is referred to in subsection (4)—

(a) refuses to produce to the examiner any book or document which it is his duty under this section to produce, or

(b) refuses to attend before the examiner when required to do so, or

(c) refuses to answer any question which is put to him by the examiner with respect to the affairs of the credit union,

the examiner may certify the refusal under his hand to the Court, and the Court may thereupon enquire into the case and, after hearing any witnesses who may be produced against or on behalf of the alleged offender and any statement which may be offered in defence, may make any order or direction it thinks fit.

(6) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (5), the Court may, after a hearing under that subsection, make a direction—

(a) to the person concerned to attend or re-attend before the examiner or produce particular books or documents or answer particular questions put to him by the examiner; or

(b) that the person concerned need not produce a particular book or document or answer a particular question put to him by the examiner.

(7) Nothing in this section shall compel the production by a barrister or solicitor of any books or documents containing a privileged communication made by or to him in that capacity or the furnishing of information contained in a privileged communication so made.

(8) In this section “agents”, in relation to a credit union, includes its bankers, accountants and solicitors, any person who is or has been an auditor of the credit union and its financial and other advisers.