Constitution

OBJECTS, CONSTITUTION AND RULES of IBOA - THE FINANCE UNION

As registered under the Trade Union Acts,1871 to 1990

NAME

1. The Organisation (hereinafter referred to as "the Union") shall be known as IBOA - The Finance Union.

2. The registered office of the Union and its place of meeting for business shall be at IBOA House, Stephen Street Upper, Dublin 8, or at such other place as the Executive Committee may from time to time determine.

OBJECTS

3. The objects of the Union shall be:
(i) to regulate the relations between the members of the Union and their employers;

(ii) to obtain and maintain adequate salaries, pensions and satisfactory conditions of service for all members;

(iii) to obtain redress for members in cases of unfair treatment by their employers;

(iv) to establish a Benevolent Fund and other such Funds either contributory or non-contributory, to be administered by the Executive Committee in accordance with bye-laws made for that purpose;

(v) to afford to members legal benefit in matters arising out of their employment and in cases approved by the Executive Committee as set out under Rule 34;

(vi) to obtain for members goods and services such as insurance at reduced rates;

(vii) to further or participate, financially or otherwise, directly or indirectly in the work of any organisation or in any other lawful purpose which the Executive Committee may deem beneficial to the Union;

(viii) to promote social interaction amongst members;

(ix) to generally improve the conditions of services of members, to encourage the attainment of a high standard of professional education and defend the interests of all members;

(x) to establish equality of opportunity for all members within the Union and also in the workplace.

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

4. For the management of the affairs of the Union, there shall be an Executive Committee which shall be elected biennially as laid down by these rules, and the business and affairs of the Union shall be conducted under the control and supervision of the said Executive Committee who shall, in addition to the powers by these rules specifically conferred on them, have power, in particular, to direct the general policy of the Union in all matters affecting the objects set forth in Rule 3 of these rules. The Executive Committee shall in all things act for and in the name of the Union and every member shall, at all times, conform in all respects to all instructions given by the Executive Committee in pursuance of these rules. And all acts done or orders given by the Executive Committee in the name or on behalf of the Union under any power by these rules given them shall bind every member as fully as if they had been acts of a majority of themselves at a Biennial Delegate Conference.

The Executive Committee shall have power to make bye-laws or regulations provided they do not conflict with these rules. The Executive Committee may appoint committees and delegate to them such powers as it thinks fit.

Two clear days' notice is required, in writing of all Executive Committee Meetings, provided that the accidental omission to give notice to an individual entitled to receive notice shall not invalidate the proceedings thereat. The General Secretary or Honorary Secretary shall have the power to call an Executive Committee Meeting at any time and the Honorary Secretary must call a meeting of the Executive Committee within 10 days if so instructed in writing by 15 members of the Executive Committee.

ADMINISTRATION - APPOINTMENT OF EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

5. The administration shall be a President and a Committee to be called the Executive Committee, which shall comprise:

(a) Thirteen members of Staff elected by postal vote by the members in AIB Group as designated hereunder:

Dublin: 4 Representatives
South (Cork City, Cork Suburban, West Cork, North East Cork): 1 Representative
South West (Limerick/Clare, Kerry): 1 Representative
South East (Waterford/South Tipperary/South East/Kilkenny/North Tipperary): 1 Representative
Midlands (Meath/North Dublin, Shannonside, East Midlands, North/East, Direct Banking): 1 Representative
North West (Donegal, Sligo/Leitrim/Roscommon, Mayo, Galway): 1 Representative
Great Britain - Allied Irish Bank (GB): 1 Representative
First Trust Bank (Belfast): 2 Representatives
First Trust Bank (Outside Belfast): 1 Representative

(b) Twelve members of Staff elected by postal vote by the members in Bank of Ireland Group as designated hereunder:

Dublin (2 Departments/Business Units & 2 Retail/Customer Contact Centre, Dublin): 4 Representatives
Cork: 1 Representative
Limerick/Tralee: 1 Representative
Waterford/Wexford: 1 Representative
Mullingar, Portlaoise, Dundalk: 1 Representative
Galway, Sligo, Donegal: 1 Representative
Belfast: 1 Representative
Northern Ireland outside Belfast: 1 Representative
Great Britain: 1 Representative

(c) Six members of Staff elected by postal vote by the members in Ulster Bank Group as designated hereunder:

Greater Dublin Area: 2 Representatives
Republic of Ireland outside Dublin: 1 Representative
Belfast: 2 Representatives
Northern Ireland outside Belfast: 1 Representative

(d) Six members of staff elected by postal vote by the members of Danske Bank Group as designated hereunder:

(d)(i) Four members of Staff elected by postal vote by the members in Northern Bank as designated hereunder:
Belfast: 2 Representatives
Northern Ireland Outside Belfast: 2 Representatives

(d)(ii) Two members of Staff elected by postal vote by the members in National Irish Bank as designated hereunder:
Dublin 1: Representative
Outside Dublin 1: Representative

(e) The General Secretary for the time being.

(f) Election of Members

The election of members under (a), (b), (c) and (d) shall take place not later than the 3rd Saturday in April in each year in which an election is held.

Postal voting under this rule shall be in a manner prescribed by the Executive Committee in accordance with any legal requirements which may apply to such voting arrangements, provided that a member shall not stand for election to more than one position on the Executive Committee at any given time.

The names of the members elected in all the said elections shall be furnished to the next ensuing Biennial Delegate Conference.

The Executive Committee shall have power to co-opt up to three members in total on to the Executive Committee in the event that the Executive Committee, at its discretion, believes that certain areas or categories of members are under represented.

As a result of mergers in the past or in the future, the Northern Ireland representation on the Executive Committee shall be at no time less than ten.

In the event of a vacancy occurring on the Executive Committee, that Committee will have power to co-opt a new member who should have previously been elected in accordance with (a), (b), (c) and (d) as the case may be. Should there be a failure to elect a member within three months of a vacancy arising, the Executive Committee may of their own motion co-opt a member from the appropriate category in which the vacancy arises.

Should any member elected fail to attend meetings of the Executive Committee for a period of three months, the Executive Committee may declare a vacancy to exist in that member's place and co-opt another member according to the procedures set out for co-option in the case of a vacancy occurring.

The names of all members to be announced at the Biennial Delegate Conference of the Union as members of the Executive Committee shall be furnished in writing to the Honorary Secretary of the Union, with the names of their Proposers and Seconders not later than three days after the third Saturday in April in each year in which such an election is to be held.

If at the Biennial Delegate Conference of the Union the new Executive Committee be not elected, the Executive Committee for the preceding two year period shall remain in office until the Executive Committee is elected in accordance with these Rules.

The Executive Committee may be removed by resolution of a Delegate Conference of the Union specially called for that purpose.

A member of the Executive Committee elected under categories (a), (b), (c) and (d) may be removed by a resolution of the members of such category at a meeting specially called for that purpose. Such a meeting shall be convened by the Executive Committee within one month of receipt of a petition signed by not less than 10% of the members in that category.

6. The President for the ensuing two-year period shall be elected at each Biennial Delegate Conference. A name or names of the member or members of the Union considered most suitable for the office by the outgoing Executive Committee shall be submitted to the Conference, and the election shall be made from among the name or names so submitted.

The President shall be an ex-officio member of the Executive Committee, and shall have full voting powers.
In the event of the death/resignation/removal from office of a President, during his/her two years of office, the Executive Committee shall appoint a member of the Union to be President for the remainder of such a two-year period.

APPOINTMENT AND REMOVAL OF OFFICERS AND STAFF

7. (a) The Executive Committee shall appoint the General Secretary and the Executive Committee shall have the power to appoint such officers and staff as may be required to conduct the business of the Union. The Executive Committee shall have discretion to fix the remuneration and terms and conditions of employment of all such persons so appointed.

(b) There shall be an Officer Board consisting of eight members, one of whom is the General Secretary and a second is the President. The Executive Committee shall appoint, by ballot of the Executive Committee, six of the Board's members, which shall consist of the following members:

(1) The Honorary Secretary
(2) The Honorary Finance Officer
(3) The AIB Group Officer
(4) The Bank of Ireland Group Officer
(5) The Danske Bank Group Officer
(6) The Ulster Bank Group Officer.

The Honorary Secretary and the Honorary Finance Officer shall be elected by ballot of the full Executive Committee. The Bank Officers shall be elected by ballot of their individual Bank Executive Committee members. In the event of a tied vote for any individual Bank Officer, the vote of the entire Executive Committee shall be called for and that Officer shall be elected by a majority of that vote.

The Executive Committee may delegate to the Officer Board such powers and discretion as it should consider desirable from time to time and any resolution passed or action taken by the Officer Board under such delegation shall be as valid as if passed or effected by the Executive Committee.

(c) The Executive Committee shall also have the power to grant honoraria to any member of the Officer Board or any member of the Union, who in their opinion has performed exceptional services in the interests of the Union.

(d) Any (Officer of the Union or) member of the Officer Board may be removed by resolution of the Executive Committee.

(e) Elected Representatives: Disciplinary Procedure:

(i) For the purpose of this Rule, "Elected Representatives" means members of the Executive Committee and Bank Secretaries. An Elected Representative shall not be subjected to disciplinary proceedings under both this Rule and Rule 23 in respect of the same matter.

(ii) The Executive Committee shall adopt Disciplinary Procedures for Elected Representatives, which:

• shall specify the conduct or circumstances that may form the basis for disciplinary proceedings;
• may provide for preventative suspension;
• shall require that an Elected Representative be notified of the disciplinary charge and be given an opportunity to hear the evidence in support of that charge and to give and call evidence in his/her defence;
• may provide a right of appeal (which may take the form of a review).

(iii) Disciplinary cases shall be heard by a "Disciplinary Body" which will be appointed by the Executive Committee. This may comprise of the Officer Board, a sub-committee of the Officer Board or a sub-group of the Executive Committee.

(iv) One or more of the following disciplinary penalties may be imposed in proceedings under this Rule:

• Verbal reprimand and caution as to future conduct;
• Requirement on the Elected Representative to provide a verbal or written apology, failing which another or an additional penalty may be imposed;
• First written warning;
• Final written warning;
• Fined a sum of money not exceeding an amount to be set by the Executive Committee from time to time;
• Debarred from attending meetings of the Union for a period as decided;
• Suspension from office for a period to be specified when the suspension is imposed;
• Debarred from holding office as an Elected Representative for a period to be specified when the sanction is imposed;
• Suspension from the Union;
• Expulsion from the Union;

PROVIDED that the penalties of suspension and expulsion from the Union may be imposed only by a vote of two-thirds of the members of the Executive Committee and appeals against such penalty shall lie to the next ensuing Biennial Delegate Conference or to a Special Delegate Conference convened in accordance with these Rules. Their decision shall be final but in the period between an Executive decision and an appeal to a Delegate Conference the Executive decision shall be valid and binding.

CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH MEMBERS BECOME ENTITLED TO BENEFITS

8. The conditions under which a member becomes entitled to legal benefit are (a) that it is required in respect of a matter arising out of his/her employment and (b) that it is approved by the Executive Committee.

The conditions under which a member becomes entitled to the benefits of the Benevolent Fund are as set forth in the rules of that Fund attached to these rules (Appendix 1), or as they may be altered from time to time by the Executive Committee.

The conditions under which a member becomes entitled to the benefits of the New Defence Fund are as set forth in the rules of that Fund attached to these rules (Appendices 2 and 3), or as they may be altered from time to time.

ACCOUNTS, INVESTMENTS, AUDIT

9. (i) The Honorary Finance Officer shall deposit in the name of the Union with a Financial Institution to be selected by the Executive Committee all sums received by him/her on behalf of the Union. The Executive Committee shall cause proper books of Accounts to be kept:

(a) With respect to all sums of money received or expended by the Union and the manner in respect of which the receipt and expenditure takes place;
(b) With respect to the assets and liabilities of the Union, and
(c) With respect to all income (subscriptions and other income) and purchases of goods and services by the Union.

(ii) The books of accounts shall be kept at the registered office of the Union.

(iii) The accounts of the Union shall be audited annually by Auditors elected at the Biennial Delegate Conference.

(iv) All cheques must be signed in the manner decided from time to time by the Executive Committee.

The Executive Committee shall have power to expend the Funds for any purpose which it is deemed beneficial to the Union, but no sum, in excess of a figure to be decided from time to time by the Executive Committee, shall be expended for any such purpose unless by a vote at an Executive Committee meeting.

(v) Wherever in these Objects, Constitution and Rules (inclusive of the Appendices) the word or words pounds or pence, or symbols £/p are used, these shall be interpreted to mean:

(a) Pounds/Pence Sterling in relation to all members who are attached to a Bank Office in Great Britain or Northern Ireland whether such transactions are subscriptions from members, payment to members or internal transfers between various funds as governed by the Rules.
(b) Euro/Cents in relation to all other transactions.

(vi) The Funds of the Union shall be applied in carrying out the objects of the Union. The following are the powers of the Executive Committee in furtherance of those objects:

(a) To purchase, take on lease or otherwise acquire any lands, buildings, or other property;
(b) To sell, improve, manage, develop, exchange, lease, hire, mortgage, dispose of, turn to account or otherwise deal with all or any part of the undertaking, property and rights of the Union;
(c) To borrow or raise or secure the payment of money in such manner as the Executive Committee shall think fit;
(d) To acquire and hold stocks, shares, securities and other investments and to invest and deal with the monies of the Union, not immediately required and in such manner as from time to time may be determined;
(e) To employ such staff as may be required by the Union from time to time;
(f) All such other lawful things as may be incidental to the foregoing main object and purposes.
The income and property of the Union whence so ever derived shall apply solely towards the promotion of the Objects of the Union.

APPOINTMENT OF NEW TRUSTEES AND RETIREMENT OF TRUSTEES

10. The Trustee of the Union is IBO Holdings Limited which company will remain as Trustee until:
a) Removed by way of Resolution of the Executive Committee; or
b) Requests to be discharged from its duties as Trustee.

MEETINGS

11. A Delegate Conference of the Union shall be convened biennially by the Executive Committee and shall be held between 1st February and 30th April every second year or such other day as may be determined upon by the Executive Committee.

The following business only shall be dealt with at the Biennial Delegate Conference of the Union:

(a) the presentation and adoption of a report and a duly audited statement of accounts for the two years up to 31st December previous. The report shall include a statement by the General Secretary on the progress in implementing the resolutions passed at the previous Biennial Delegate Conference;
(b) the election of the President and the announcement to the Conference of the names of the members of the Executive Committee for the ensuing two-year period;
(c) the election of an auditor or auditors for the ensuing two year period;
(d) Any resolution which conforms to the terms of Rule 12.
(e) Any other matter included in the notice convening the Biennial Delegate Conference or permitted by the Chairperson; provided always that at any Conference urgency may be declared for a matter not included in the Agenda by the vote of four-fifths of the delegates present and thereupon such matters shall be deemed to be included in the Agenda and dealt with accordingly. A sub-committee be set up by the Executive Committee to examine the resolutions to the Biennial Delegate Conference with a view to formulating composite resolutions where there are repetitious motions submitted.
(f) The Standing Orders for Delegate Conferences and other IBOA meetings are as specified in Appendix 4.
(g) The Delegates to the Biennial or Special Delegate Conference shall be those members who hold the
position of Bank Secretary or Executive Committee Member at the commencement of the Biennial or Special Delegate Conference. The Pensioners' Committee shall be eligible to nominate two Pensioner Members as Delegates to Biennial or Special Delegate Conferences.

BDC PRELIMINARY ARRANGEMENTS

12.
(a) In the November before the Biennial Delegate Conference, the Honorary Secretary will write to all members advising them of their right to suggest the subject matter for resolutions to their Bank Secretaries or Executive Committee Members

(b) In November/December, each Local Area Meeting shall consider resolutions for inclusion on the Agenda of the Biennial Delegate Conference (BDC). In order to be included on the BDC Agenda, a resolution shall be duly proposed and seconded by members and approved by a majority of those present and entitled to vote at the Local Area Meeting. The Local Area Meeting shall be open to all paid up members. Meetings of the Pensioners' Committee and the Executive Committee shall each be deemed to constitute a Local Area Meeting.

(c) 21 (Twenty one) Local Area Meetings will take place as follows:
Armagh, Belfast, Coleraine,Cork, Donegal, Dublin Dundalk, Galway, Limerick, Mullingar, Omagh, Portlaoise,Sligo Tralee, Waterford, Wexford, Britain North, Britain South, London, Pensioners' Committee and Executive Committee

(d) The Local Area Meetings will be convened by the General Secretary on the authority of the Executive Committee.

(e) Each Local Area Meeting will appoint a Secretary who will be responsible for forwarding any resolution to the Honorary Secretary by 22nd December.

(f) The Executive Committee shall, at its discretion, be entitled to direct the Honorary Secretary not to accept any resolution, the terms of which are already policy of the Union or have been dealt with by a Delegate Conference within the previous 5 (five) years.

(g) The Honorary Secretary shall send out the resolutions for examination and/or amendment in the first week of January.

(h) The Honorary Secretary shall accept an amendment to any resolution submitted in writing in accordance with the procedures above not later than 24th January preceding the Biennial Delegate Conference.

(i) Subject to these rules and to the Standing Orders contained in Appendix 4, all resolutions and amendments submitted in accordance with these procedures shall be placed on the Agenda of the Biennial Delegate Conference.

13. A Special Delegate Conference of the Union may be convened by the Executive Committee or on application being made by not less than one-third of the membership at any time. Such a Conference shall be convened within one month of the receipt by the Honorary Secretary of the Union of copies of any resolutions requesting that such Conference be convened. Nothing contained in this Constitution shall prevent the Executive Committee from putting down any emergency or other resolution before conference provided however that such a resolution has been passed by a majority of the Executive Committee at a meeting convened for that purpose.

14. The notice convening the Biennial Delegate Conference shall be sent not later than 15th February in every second year unless in exceptional circumstances which shall be at the absolute discretion of the Executive Committee.

15. Seven days clear notice will be given for all General Meetings other than the Biennial Delegate Conference.

16. The President of the Union if present at any meeting shall be Chairperson. In his/her absence at a Delegate Conference the procedure is as laid down in No. 2 of "Standing Orders" (Appendix 4). In his/her absence at any other meeting the meeting shall elect a Chairperson. Irrespective of whether or not he/she was entitled to vote in the first instance at a particular meeting, the presiding Chairperson shall always have a casting vote in the event of votes being equal.

17. The voting on any subject at any Delegate Conference shall be by show of hands, or by secret ballot if demanded by one-third of the delegates present; and only delegates may be entitled to vote. Any member of the Union may attend and may speak on any subject if given permission to do so by the Chairperson of the Conference.

QUORUM

18. A quorum at a meeting shall be:
(a) At a Delegate Conference of the Union not less than 50% plus one of the elected delegates to attend.
(b) At an Executive Committee Meeting, not less than 19 members drawn from the elected representatives of at least three of the Banks mentioned in Rule 5(a), 5(b), 5(c) and 5(d).
(c) The quorum in respect of all other meetings shall be as decided from time to time by the Executive Committee.

If within a half an hour from the time appointed for any meeting a quorum be not present the meeting may be adjourned for a period of not less than a week and not more than a fortnight by the person nominated by the Executive Committee to conduct the meeting. If at such an adjourned meeting a quorum be not obtained, those present shall be competent to transact the business comprised in the notice convening the meeting.

MEMBERSHIP

19. Every official of a Bank or other institution approved by the Executive Committee shall be eligible for membership with full voting rights, and may be admitted to membership on payment of the annual subscription subject to the approval of the Executive Committee. Superannuated officials and former members may be admitted as pensioner members/associate members, subject to the approval of the Executive Committee, on conditions decided upon by the Executive Committee.

20.(a) There shall exist such classes of membership as the Executive Committee shall from time to time in its absolute discretion decide. The annual subscription may differ in respect of the different classes of membership. The Executive Committee may produce a list of the classes of membership and the annual subscriptions for each such class of membership following each Biennial Delegate Conference. Commencing 1st April, 2000, the subscription of all members will be increased in line with the increase in Consumer Price Index in the previous calendar year. In each subsequent year, subscriptions will be index-linked in the same manner as defined above. No other alteration of the annual subscription shall be made except by resolution passed by 2/3rds majority of the votes cast at the Biennial or Special Delegate Conference.
(b) With effect from 2nd January 2009 and annually thereafter, the subscriptions of union members working in the Sterling area will be calculated, in Sterling, by applying the official Central Bank of Ireland exchange rate between the Euro and Sterling to the Republic of Ireland membership subscription rates. Any consequent increase/decrease will be applied from 1st April annually following this calculation.

It is recognised that from time to time the exchange rates may experience severe volatility which when applied to subscriptions through the above rule could cause the relationship between the rate of increase in the Euro subscription rate and that of the Sterling subscription rate (or vice versa) to become severely distorted. When such an event occurs, the Executive Committee may suspend the application of the above rule (subject to the provisions of Resolution 9 passed at the Biennial Delegate Conference 1999) and address the subscriptions issue as it deems appropriate.
In the event of the UK joining the Euro, Union subscription rates applicable to UK members will be those applying to the Republic of Ireland members at the date of the UK Government officially adopting the Euro as the currency of the UK.

21. Any member whose annual subscription has not been paid on or before the 31st day of January in the following year shall ipso facto, cease to be a member and his or her name shall be removed from the register of members; provided always that the Executive Committee shall have power to extend the time of payment at their discretion in special circumstances. A member whose name has for any cause been removed from the register of members shall not be readmitted a member until he or she has paid a sum equal to the amount he or she would have been liable for had he or she remained a member, or such other sum as the Executive Committee in their absolute discretion decide after consideration of the circumstances.

CESSER OF MEMBERSHIP

22. A member of the Union shall cease to be a member:

(a) on written resignation to the Executive Committee;
(b) on expulsion under Rule 23;
(c) on the removal of his/her name from the register under Rule 21;
(d) on ceasing to be employed at which point he/she may apply to become an associate member or superannuated member as appropriate.

SUSPENSION OR EXPULSION OF MEMBERS

23. A member may be suspended or may be expelled from the Union by the vote of two-thirds of the members of the Executive Committee if found by the said committee guilty of conduct prejudicial to the interests of the Union or conduct unbecoming that of a member, or conduct inimical to the interest of other members. No such action shall be taken without due notice to the member concerned giving him/her an opportunity of being heard in his/her defence.

Suspension shall mean that a member will not be entitled to vote in any ballot or to participate in any IBOA -The Finance Union meetings or social functions during the period of the suspension subject only to the member's right of being heard in his/her own defence before the appropriate body.

The Executive Committee shall have the right to refuse to accept any resignation from the Union when such resignation is being tendered by a member who in the opinion of the Executive Committee is using such resignation as a device to avoid disciplinary investigation and possible suspension or expulsion, subject to the law pertaining in any given jurisdiction.
Where following due process a member has been suspended or expelled that member shall have the right of appeal to the next ensuing Biennial Delegate Conference or to a Special Delegate Conference convened in accordance with these rules. Their decision shall be final but in the period between an Executive decision and an appeal to a Delegate Conference the Executive decision shall be valid and binding.

GENERAL ELECTORAL PROCEDURES

24. Where for any reason a vacancy occurs during the term of office in any post designated in these Rules then the procedures outlined for the Biennial Elections shall apply.

25. Any Delegate Conference or Special Delegate Conference designated in these Rules may allow a substitute to attend its meetings when the elected member is unable to attend.Where such permission is granted the substitute shall not have a vote at the meeting concerned.

26. The Executive Committee shall have the power to make such regulations from time to time as will in their opinion ensure the efficient organisation and representation of members at local level.

AREA/REGIONAL/DISTRICT STRUCTURE

27. The Regional and District Structure of the Union is set out in Appendix 5. In each region, a minimum of four meetings per year shall take place between the Bank Executive Committee Member(s) and Bank District Secretaries. Each Bank shall have a Liaison Committee structured in a manner defined by the Executive Committee from time to time.

The structures as set out in Appendix 5 shall not be changed unless by decision of a Biennial Delegate Conference or Special Delegate Conference.

The Bank District Secretary will be elected by a postal vote of all members in that Bank in that District. Postal voting under this rule shall be in a manner prescribed by the Executive Committee.
IBOA Representatives shall be elected biennially prior to the Biennial Delegate Conference. Their names shall be notified immediately to the General Secretary.

The Executive Committee shall have power to co-opt up to three members in total as Bank District Secretaries in the event that the Executive Committee, at its discretion, believes that certain areas or categories of members are under represented.

ALTERATION OF RULES

28. No alteration, addition to, amendment or rescission of the rules of the Union shall be effected except by resolution carried by two-thirds majority of the votes cast at a Delegate Conference of the Union, or by a ballot of all members of the Union resulting in a two-thirds majority of those voting, such majority to represent more than 50% of the membership.

INSPECTION OF BOOKS

29. The books of the Union and the register of the names of members may be inspected by any person having an interest in the funds of the Union.

DISSOLUTION

30. The Union may be dissolved by a resolution carried by a two-thirds majority of the votes cast at a special meeting called for the purpose of considering the dissolution of the Union or by a ballot of all members of the Union resulting in a two-thirds majority of those voting, such majority to represent more than 50% of the membership.

MATTERS EXCLUDED

31. All matters of a political or religious character or otherwise not directly connected with the purposes for which the Union exists shall be held to be outside the scope of the Union's objects and shall not therefore be considered at any meeting. The Executive Committee shall have the power of deciding what matters may be held under this rule to be outside the scope of the Union's object

INTERPRETATION

32. In these Rules where the context so admits or requires the masculine shall include the feminine, the singular shall include the plural or vice versa.

STRIKES AND INDUSTRIAL ACTION

33.
33.1 REPUBLIC OF IRELAND
(1) The provisions of this rule shall apply notwithstanding any other provision contained in these rules.

(2) In this rule the terms "strike" and "industrial action" shall have the same meaning as in the Industrial Relations Act, 1990.

(3) In this rule the term "member" shall have the same meaning as in rule 19.

(4) Paragraphs 5 to 10 (in bold) below contain the provisions in Section 14(2) of the Industrial Relations Act, 1990 in relation to the holding of secret ballots before engaging in a strike or other industrial action. Their inclusion in trade union rules is a statutory requirement under the said Section 14(2) and the First Schedule (as amended) to the Trade Union Act, 1871. These provisions shall apply only to the Republic of Ireland.

(5) The Union shall not organise, participate in, sanction or support a strike or other industrial action without a secret ballot, entitlement to vote in which shall be accorded equally to all members whom it is reasonable at the time of the ballot to believe will be called upon to engage in the strike or other industrial action.

(6) The Union shall take reasonable steps to ensure that every member entitled to vote in the ballot votes without interference from, or constraint imposed by, the Union or any of its members, officials or employees and, so far as is reasonably possible, that such members shall be given a fair opportunity of voting.

(7) The Executive Committee shall have full discretion in relation to organising, participating in, sanctioning or supporting a strike or other industrial action notwithstanding that the majority of those voting in the ballot, including an aggregate ballot referred to in Paragraph 8 of this rule, favour such strike or other industrial action.

(8) The Executive Committee shall not organise, participate in, sanction or support a strike or other industrial action against the wishes of a majority of the Union's members voting in a secret ballot, except where, in the case of a ballot by more than one trade union, an aggregate majority of all the votes cast, favours such strike or other industrial action.

(9) Where the outcome of a secret ballot conducted by the Union or, in the case of ballots conducted by the Union and any number of other trade unions, which are affiliated to the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, an aggregate majority of all the votes cast, is in favour of supporting a strike organised by another trade union, a decision to take such supportive action shall not be implemented by the Union without the sanction of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions.

(10) As soon as practicable after the conduct of a secret ballot the Union shall take reasonable steps to make known to the members of the Union entitled to vote in the ballot:

(a) the number of ballot papers issued;
(b) the number of votes cast;
(c) the number of votes in favour of the proposal;
(d) the number of votes against the proposal; and
(e) the number of spoiled votes.

(11) Nothing in this rule shall constitute an obstacle to negotiations for the settlement of a trade dispute nor the return to work by members of the union party to the trade dispute, and any decision taken in accordance with this rule to organise, participate in, sanction or support a strike or other industrial action may be rescinded or amended without the necessity of a further ballot of the members concerne

33.2 NORTHERN IRELAND AND GREAT BRITAIN

(1) The provisions of this rule shall apply to Northern Ireland and Great Britain only.

(2) The Executive Committee shall have the power to authorise a strike or other industrial action.

(3) The Executive Committee may appoint a sub-committee, officer or member to act on its behalf in issuing any particular instructions to take industrial action.

(4) No such instruction shall be issued unless the members who are the subject of that instruction have first had the opportunity to vote upon the proposal to take industrial action in a ballot in accordance with the statutory requirements governing same.

The Executive Committee may draw up a Code applicable either generally to all industrial disputes or in relation to any particular dispute. All members shall observe the Code during the disputes.

LEGAL BENEFIT

34.
34.1.1 The Executive Committee shall have the power in its absolute discretion to grant legal benefit to members who qualify under Rule 2 below in respect of:
(1) Injuries or any other matter requiring legal benefit arising out of or in the course of their employment, or in proceeding to or from their place of employment, or whilst on Union duties or injuries arising out of a non work related matter.
(2) In exceptional circumstances any other matter.

34.1.2 The Executive Committee shall also have the power in its absolute discretion to grant legal benefit to family members of members who qualify under Rule 2 in respect of:
(1) Injuries suffered by the family member arising out of a non work related matter.
(2) In exceptional circumstance any other matter.

34.1.3 Legal benefit may include advice and/or representation. Where legal benefit is provided by a solicitor and/or counsel instructed by the Union the Executive Committee shall indemnify the member (or member's family if appropriate) in respect of any liabilities incurred on the Executive Committee's authority up to the date of withdrawal of support.

34.1.4 The Executive Committee shall have the power in its absolute discretion to provide legal benefit to the financial dependants or next of kin of a deceased member whether or not they are members of the Union in respect of any matter arising out of the deceased member's employment or any matter in respect of which legal benefit could have been granted to the member under this Rule.

34.1.5 In all cases, the conditions of Rules 3 to 7 inclusive below should be satisfied. However, the Executive Committee can grant legal benefit notwithstanding that some or all of these conditions are not met.

34.1.6 In all cases, the Executive Committee has absolute discretion as to whether or not to grant, continue or withdraw legal benefit. The Executive Committee shall have the power to delegate the decision to continue or withdraw legal benefit to a relevant committee, or to a lay or full time Officer of the Union. Conditions may be attached to the granting or continuing of legal benefit and such conditions may be varied from time to time.

QUALIFICATIONS

34.2 The following shall apply:
(i) The member must have been in membership of the Union for at least 13 weeks prior to the member knowing that she/he had need of legal benefit and seeks legal benefit from the Union.
(ii) The member must not be in arrears of contribution.
(iii) The Executive Committee or relevant committee lay or full time Officer to whom the power to grant legal
benefit has been delegated may in its absolute discretion grant legal benefit notwithstanding that sub clauses 2 (i) and 2 (ii) above or either of them are not satisfied.

CONDITIONS

34.3 The member seeking legal benefit shall seek legal benefit in a manner prescribed by the Executive Committee.

34.4 The member is not entitled to assume that his/her application for legal benefit is effective until this matter is determined one way or the other in writing by the Union.

34.5 The member must continue to pay contributions whilst her/his case is proceeding unless he/she has obtained dispensation from the Executive Committee or relevant committee acting on its behalf.

34.6 The Executive Committee may grant legal benefit on such conditions as it deems appropriate. Every grant of legal benefit shall be on the understanding that the Executive Committee in its discretion may withdraw legal benefit if the member does not follow the advice of the Union or its appointed solicitors, fails to pay contributions or if in its view the continuance of legal benefit is unreasonable. The Executive Committee may, in determining whether or not to continue legal benefit, take into account the policy of the Union. The Executive Committee may require information to be furnished to the Committee on an ongoing basis by the appointed union solicitors on the proviso that the solicitors instructed have satisfied themselves that there are no breaches of client confidentiality.

34.7 The Union shall not be accountable for any costs, charges or other payments in connection with legal benefit either incurred or made on behalf of member (or member's family if appropriate) without the consent of the Executive Committee.

APPENDIX 1: RULES OF THE BENEVOLENT FUND

OBJECT

1. The object of the Benevolent Fund (hereinafter referred to as "The Fund") is to make grants to persons who, through no fault of their own, are in need of financial assistance, and who are eligible to apply for grants according to these rules.

FINANCE

2. The monies for the finance of the Fund shall be obtained in the following manner:
With effect from the start of the IBOA - The Finance Union Financial Year immediately following the Annual Delegate Meeting (April 1981) at which these rules were adopted there shall be placed to the Fund a sum equivalent to one per cent (1%) of the gross membership subscriptions in the preceding Financial Year. At the start of each subsequent Financial Year a sum similarly calculated (on preceding year's gross membership subscription) up to a maximum of one per cent (1%) shall be placed to the Fund provided always that the balance of the Fund at the start of any Financial Year shall not exceed two per cent (2%) of the gross membership subscriptions in the preceding Financial Year. All monies transferred to the Fund by the Executive Committee shall come from the General Fund of the Union. The Executive Committee may accept grants and donations made to the Fund.

3. A return of all expenditure on the Fund during each Financial Year of the Union shall be presented to the next following Biennial Delegate Conference, and it shall be competent for the Delegate Conference to decide that the Fund be abolished, or that its operation be suspended for any stated time not exceeding one year.

PERSONS ELIGIBLE TO APPLY FOR ASSISTANCE FROM THE FUND

4. Nothing in these rules shall confer on any person or class of persons any right to assistance from the Fund.

5. No member of IBOA - The Finance Union who on account of dishonesty shall have been dismissed from service or shall have ceased to receive a pension shall be eligible to apply for a grant from the Fund, provided that the spouse, widow/widower, child or dependant of such a person shall not be precluded from making an application.

6. No application for a grant shall be entertained from any person except
(a) a current member of IBOA - The Finance Union;

(b) a person eligible to be a member of IBOA- The Finance Union who, having joined or rejoined that Union according to its rules, continued to be a member of that Union as long as he or she was eligible for membership thereof; and

(c) a spouse, widow/widower, child or person dependent on any person as specified at (a)
and (b).

7. The Fund shall be administered by the Executive Committee of IBOA- The Finance Union, and every applicant for a grant from the Fund shall furnish to the Executive Committee such information as the Executive Committee may require to be furnished, and failure to furnish such information or the furnishing of false information shall render the applicant ineligible for a grant.

8. The Executive Committee may make any inquiries, which it may consider necessary before making any grant to any person.

9. The Executive Committee may, before making any grant, require an applicant for a grant to furnish a certificate or certificates from any person or persons whom it may specify. Such certificates may relate to the character, the circumstances and the intentions of the applicant and to any other matter, which the Committee may specify.

10. The Executive Committee shall investigate or cause to be investigated in such manner as it may think fit the necessity of a grant to any applicant eligible for a grant, and shall record its decision on each application.

11. The decision of the Executive Committee on any application for a grant shall be final, provided that the Committee may order any such application to be renewed at a later date and its decision on such renewed application shall be final, and this shall be a condition on every application for a grant from the Fund.

12. The Executive Committee may impose such conditions as it may think fit on any grant it may make.

13. The Executive Committee may refuse to make a grant to any applicant, and it shall not be necessary for the Executive Committee to assign any reason for such refusal.

14. The Executive Committee, when making a grant, may make it payable to the applicant himself/herself or to any other person or persons for his/her benefit, and may make it payable at one time or in such instalments as the Executive Committee may think fit.

15. If the Executive Committee make a grant payable in instalments the Committee may, without assigning any reason at any time before all the instalments are paid, stop the payment of any further instalment, and thisshall be a condition of every grant made payable by instalments.

16. The Executive Committee having made a grant to any applicant may, without assigning any reason, revoke such grant at any time before it is paid.

17. The Executive Committee may at any time cease to make grants or to receive applications for grants if it is of the opinion that the accounts of the Union for the current year render that course advisable.

 

APPENDIX 2: RULES RELATING TO THE DEFENCE FUND

(N.B. No further payments were made to this Defence Fund after April, 1967).

1. The Defence Fund shall be constituted of that portion of the Subscriptions (hereinafter referred to as "Class A Subscriptions") payable by those members of the Association who have elected to pay a "Part Returnable Subscription" which under the rules governing Membership subscription is returnable to those members.

2. The rates of Class A Subscriptions and the proportion thereof returnable to the Members may from time to time be altered by the Association in Delegate Conference.

3. Every member shall receive on request a Certificate of the total amount of Returnable Subscription standing to his or her credit on the previous 31st December.

4. All Class A Subscriptions shall be deposited in a banking account in the name of the Association entitled Subscription Account A, and no withdrawals from that Account shall be permitted except by transfer authorised by a Resolution of the Executive Committee of the Association.

5. A member whose Annual Subscription for any year ended 31st December is in arrears on the 31st day of January following shall on the said 31st day of January cease to be a member of the Association, provided always, that the Executive Committee shall have discretionary powers of extending the time for payment of such arrears or of re-admission to Membership in special circumstances.

6. A Trust Company with limited liability shall be formed to act as Trustees of the Fund comprising the Returnable Portions of Class A Subscriptions and a Deed of Trust shall be executed containing such provisions as may be necessary to ensure that the Trust Fund thereby constituted shall be readily available to the members for their defence.

7. The Deed of Trust shall provide, inter alia, that:

(a) The returnable proportion of each Member's Subscription when paid over to the Trustees must be placed in the Trust Fund and must, subject to the provisions for payment out thereof hereinafter mentioned, remain in the Trust Fund to his or her credit whether he or she shall continue to be a member of the Association or not.

(b) If at any time such Member shall be on strike either partial or complete or be locked out by his or her employer he or she shall be entitled to have from the amount so standing to his or her credit as aforesaid so much thereof as may be necessary paid out to him or her by weekly, monthly or other payments and during such period or periods as shall be sufficient to make good any loss of salary which would be incurred by such Member during the period for which he or she is so on strike or locked out as aforesaid, but the total of such payments shall not exceed the amount standing to his or her credit as aforesaid.

(c) If such member shall for any reason whatsoever cease to serve in the Bank in which he or she was employed the amount for the time being standing to his or her credit in the Trust Fund shall be repaid to him or her or his or her legal Personal Representative without interest. Provided always that no refund of the amount so standing to his or her credit shall be made to any official who shall be expelled from the Association or who, while still a serving member of a Bank, resigns from the Association. (N.B. This proviso passed at the Annual General Meeting on 23rd April, 1960 applies to the returnable part of the subscriptions paid after that date).

(d) The Trust Company shall invest the monies comprising the Trust Fund in or upon securities authorised for the investment of Trust Funds by or under any Statute for the time being in force of the Oireachtas or of the Parliaments of Northern Ireland or the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland or the late United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland or fully paid Bank Stocks or Shares.

(e) The Trust Company shall pay all income arising from the Trust Fund and the investment thereof to the Association.

(f) The expenses of the administration of the Trust Fund shall be borne and paid by the Association out of monies not forming any part of the Trust Fund.

(g) The Trust Company shall not be responsible for or liable to make good any loss of capital occasioned by any depreciation in the value of any securities in or upon which the Defence Fund may for the time being be invested.

8. The Association shall set aside and maintain a Special Reserve Fund of £5,000 and if by reason of any depreciation in the capital value of the Investments representing Trust Fund the said Fund shall prove insufficient for the payment in full of all claims against the same the said Special Reserve Fund of £5,000 shall so far as the same shall extend be applied in making good the deficiency in the said Trust Fund resulting from such depreciation, but save as aforesaid the Association shall not be liable for any such depreciation or otherwise in respect of the Trust Fund.

9. The Defence Fund and the Trusts thereof may be wound up by a Resolution of the Association in Delegate Conference. Upon such winding-up every Member or past Member of the Association to whose credit in the Trust Fund there shall then be standing any sum or sums in respect of Returnable Subscriptions paid by him or her shall be entitled to have such sum or sums repaid to him or her. The expenses of such winding-up shall be borne by the Association. Any residue remaining in the Fund shall belong absolutely to the Association.

9a. NO FURTHER PAYMENTS SHALL BE CREDITED TO THE DEFENCE FUND AFTER 22ND APRIL 1967.

10. These Rules may be altered and/or new Rules may be substituted therefore by a Resolution of the Association in Delegate Conference.

COPY OF TRUST DEED RELATING TO DEFENCE FUND

THIS INDENTURE is made the day of 1953, BETWEEN IRISH BANK OFFICIALS' HOLDINGS LIMITED having their registered office at IBOA House, Stephen Street Upper, in the City of Dublin (hereinafter called "the trustee") of the One part and of (hereinafter together referred to as "the Executive Committee") being the Executive Committee of the IRISH BANK OFFICIALS' ASSOCIATION of IBOA House, Stephen Street Upper, Dublin 8 aforesaid (hereinafter called "The Association") of the Other part WHEREAS the Association is a Trade Union registered under the Trade Union Acts 1871 and 1935 AND WHEREAS the Association pursuant to its objects has initiated and set up a Fund for the benefit of its member known as the Defence Fund the Rules relating to which are set out in the First Schedule hereto AND WHEREAS the Association has collected and will continue to collect from its Members the subscriptions payable by them and will pay over to the Trustees not later than the close of each financial year the returnable portion of the said subscriptions which shall constitute the said Defence Fund to be held by the Trustees upon the trusts hereinafter set forth.

NOW THESE PRESENT WITNESS that IT IS HEREBY AGREED AND DECLARED as follows:

1. The Trustees shall hold all monies transferred to them by the Association and specifically designated as contributions towards the Defence Fund upon the Trusts set out in the Second Schedule hereto.

2. The Association shall set aside and maintain a Special Reserve Fund of £5,000 and if by reason of any depreciation in the capital value of the Investments for the time being representing the Trust Fund in the Second Schedule hereto mentioned the said Trust Fund shall prove insufficient for the payment in full of all claims against the same the said Special Reserve Fund of £5,000 shall so far as the same shall extend be applied in making good the deficiency in the said Trust Fund resulting from such depreciation but save as aforesaid the Association shall not be liable for any depreciation or otherwise in respect of the said Trust Fund.

3. All the costs and expenses of and incidental to the preparation and execution of these presents shall be borne and paid by the Association and the Association shall also pay the Trustees on demand from time to time all costs and expenses incurred by the Trustees in and about the execution and administration of the trusts hereby declared of and concerning the monies aforesaid.

4. The Defence Fund may be wound up and the Trusts hereby declared of the investments and monies representing the same may be terminated by a Resolution of the Association in Delegate Conference and in such event every person who is a member of the Association has contributed to the Defence Fund shall be entitled to have repaid to him or her subject to Clause 2 without interest every or any sum or sums which may then be standing to his or her credit in the Trust Fund and if any such person shall be then dead such repayment (if any) shall be made to his or her legal Personal Representative. Any residue remaining in the Fund shall belong absolutely to the Association.

IN WITNESS FIRST SCHEDULE RULES RELATING TO THE DEFENCE FUND AS PRINTED SEPARATELY
SECOND SCHEDULE TRUSTS RELATING TO THE DEFENCE FUND

1. To invest all monies received by the Trustees in or upon any securities authorised by the law of Ireland for the investment of Trust Funds or any fully paid Stocks or Shares of any Bank or Banks having a principal office in the Republic of Ireland or in Northern Ireland or in Great Britain with power to vary such investments for or into others of a like nature.

2. To pay the income arising from such monies and the investments for the time being representing the same (all of which are hereinafter referred to as "the Defence Fund") to the Irish Bank Officials' Association (hereinafter referred to as "The Association") for the general purposes thereof.

3. To hold the capital of the Defence Fund upon Trust to pay and apply the same in manner following, that is to say:

(a) If and whenever the Executive Committee of the Association shall by Certificate under their hands or the hands of their Agent duly appointed thereto in writing certify that a person who as Member of the Association has contributed to the Defence Fund is either on strike (whether partial or complete) or is locked out by his or her employer then the Trustees whether or not such person shall have continued to be a Member of the Association subsequent to the making of such contribution shall apply so much of the Capital of the Defence Fund as when realised shall represent the amount necessary for the purpose in payment to such person of such weekly, monthly or other sums and during such period or periods as shall be sufficient (so far as the amount contributed in cash by such person will extend) to make good to such person the loss of salary incurred by him or her during the period for which he or she is on strike or locked out as aforesaid, but the total of such payments shall not exceed the amount contributed by such person.

(b) If and whenever the Executive Committee of the Association shall certify in manner aforesaid that such a person as aforesaid has left the service of the Bank by whom he or she was employed for any reason whatsoever the Trustees shall forthwith repay to such person whether he or she is then a member of the Association or not so much of the capital of the Defence Fund as when realised shall represent the amount contributed thereto in cash by such person except so much thereof as may have been previously thereto applied in manner provided by sub-clause (a) thereof.

(c) If and whenever the Executive Committee of the Association shall certify in manner aforesaid that such a person as aforesaid has died the Trustees shall repay to the Personal Representative of such deceased person (whether or not such person was at his or her death a Member of the Association) so much of the Capital of the Defence Fund as when realised shall represent the amount contributed thereto in cash by such person except so much thereof as may have been previously thereto applied in manner provided by sub-clause (a) hereof unless the whole of such capital shall have been previously thereto repaid to such person under the provisions of sub-clause (b) hereof.

PROVIDED ALWAYS AND IT IS HEREBY AGREED that a Certificate of the Executive Committee of the Association under their hands or the hand of their Agent duly authorised thereto in writing as to the amount of cash contributed by any Member of the Defence Fund shall be conclusive and binding upon such Member and such a Certificate shall be furnished annually by the Association to the Trustees in respect of any Member who has contributed to the Defence Fund so long as any part of the amount so contributed remains in the capital of the Defence Fund, and whether such Member continues to be a Member of the Association or not.

4. The Trustees shall not be responsible for or liable to make good any loss of capital occasioned by any depreciation in the value of any securities in or upon which the Defence Fund may be for the time being invested.

 

APPENDIX 3 RULES RELATING TO THE NEW DEFENCE FUND

(N.B. No payments were made to this Defence Fund in 1989 and no further payments will be made after June 1990 in accordance with Resolutions passed at 1989 and 1990 Annual Delegate Meetings. All monies held in the Defence Fund from 1st June 1990 shall continue to be held subject to the Rules relating to the Defence Funds as comprised in Appendices 2 and 3 herein).

1. There shall be constituted and set up a Fund to be known as the "New Defence Fund" and all the rules and regulations presently applicable to the Defence Fund shall apply pari passu to the New Defence Fund save where the same are hereinafter varied or amended.

2. The Trustees of the New Defence Fund shall be Irish Bank Officials' Holdings Limited (or such other Trust Company approved by the Executive Committee of the Association) who shall execute a supplemental Trust Deed in relation thereto containing such provisions as may be necessary to enable the Trustees to give effect to the amended rules.

3. If at any time the Executive Committee are of the opinion that a Member directly or indirectly is liable to suffer or has actually suffered any loss as a result of any industrial action or dispute involving the Banks or their employees the Executive Committee may by resolution direct the Trustees to pay out to such Member the whole or such part of the returnable contributions standing to the credit of such Member as it may deem advisable the said sum to be paid at such time and in such amounts as the said Executive Committee shall decide.

4. No Special Reserve Fund shall be set aside or maintained and the Association shall not be liable for any depreciation in respect of that Trust Fund.

APPENDIX 4: STANDING ORDERS FOR THE CONDUCT OF BUSINESS AT DELEGATE CONFERENCES AND OTHER MEETINGS OF IBOA THE FINANCE UNION

1. Meetings shall assemble punctually at the hour appointed and shall continue until the business of the Agenda is completed.

2. At a Delegate Conference the President shall take the Chair and formally open the business of the Meeting. If it be definitely known that he/she will not be present at the Delegate Conference, the Executive Committee shall have the right to appoint a Chairperson. If, however, he/she be merely absent at the hour appointed for the Delegate Conference, the delegates present shall elect a Chairperson from amongst their numbers. Such Chairperson shall vacate the chair on the arrival of the President. At any other meeting the President shall be Chairperson if present and in his/her absence the meeting shall elect a Chairperson.

3. The Chairperson's ruling on all matters shall be final. Furthermore, he/she shall have the power to decide when a motion has been fully discussed and may call upon the proposer of the motion to close the debate. In the event of the votes being equal the presiding Chairperson shall have a casting vote.

4. At a Delegate Conference a Standing Orders Committee of three shall be appointed from amongst the members present. The Executive Committee shall, prior to the Delegate Conference, appoint not less than four members (two on each side of the hall) to count the votes taken on any motion.

5. The voting on any subject at any meeting shall be by show of hands of those entitled to vote/or by secret ballot if demanded by one-third of those present who are entitled to vote. At a Delegate Conference only Delegates shall be entitled to vote, (except the Chairperson as designated at 3.), but any member of the Union may attend a Delegate Conference and may speak on any subject (including proposing/seconding motions etc.) if given permission to do so by the Chairperson of the Conference. Outgoing/Incoming members of the E.C. - irrespective of whether they are Delegates or not - may speak as of right at a Delegate Conference.

6. Speakers must always address their remarks to the Chairperson, and shall only put questions or make reply through him/her.

7. No proposal or amendment shall be discussed by the meeting unless and until it has been seconded. The proposer of a motion shall be allowed ten minutes to speak, the seconder five minutes, and if the motion is contentious each succeeding speaker five minutes; but unless the motion is opposed the Chairperson may put it to the Meeting after the proposer and seconder have spoken. These time limits are not to apply to the President, Honorary Secretary, Honorary Finance Officer AIB Group Officer, Bank of Ireland Group Officer, Danske Bank Group Officer and Ulster Bank Group Officer, General Secretary or other employee of the Union when they are addressing the meeting on any subject. The time limit may also be extended for anybody at the discretion of the Chairman.

8. Should two or more people rise in their places to speak at the same time, the Chairperson shall decide who shall speak first. Each speaker shall identify himself/herself to the meeting before speaking on any subject by giving his/her name and where applicable his/her Bank, location and if a Delegate to a Delegate Conference the District/Bank he/she represents.

9. No interruption shall be allowed except on a point of order. No speaker shall speak twice on the same motion except the mover of an original motion, who shall have five minutes to reply. In the case of motions moved on behalf of the Executive Committee any member of that Committee nominated by itself shall have the right to wind up the debate.

10. (a) DELEGATE CONFERENCES:
Motions on the Agenda shall normally be moved by the Delegate from the District/Bank from which the Motion emanated and in any event it shall be the responsibility of that Delegate to ensure that a proposer and seconder for the motion has been arranged. If for any reason a motion is not moved within a reasonable time span, as designated above then any member present may do so. In the case of motions standing in the name of the Executive Committee, any member of that Committee may move such motions.

10. (b) OTHER MEETINGS:
In the case of District/Bank Meetings advising a Delegate on motions to be considered at a Delegate Conference any member present may move/second a motion but the provisions of 5 apply in relation to any vote taken. The same procedures would apply to any other meeting be it Committee, Bank, Branch etc.

11. (a) DELEGATE CONFERENCES:
A motion may be passed, rejected or referred back to the Executive Committee for further consideration. Where a motion has been moved/seconded it shall be open to the Executive Committee through one of its own members to propose that the Motion be "referred back" and when such proposal has been seconded it shall be regarded by the meeting as an amendment to the original motion and as such a vote shall be taken first on the proposal to "refer back" and if carried the motion shall be deemed to have been disposed of and the next business shall be taken up. For procedural smoothness and time saving at a Delegate Conference it shall be allowable also for the Delegate from the District/Bank from which the Motion emanated to initially propose that the Motion be "referred back" and in such circumstances this Motion (when seconded) shall be put to a vote and if carried the motion shall be deemed to be disposed of and the next business shall be taken up.

11. (b) OTHER MEETINGS:

In the case of District/Bank Meetings advising a Delegate on Motions to be considered at a Delegate Conference it shall be open to any member present to propose an amendment of "referral back" to any motion which has been moved/seconded and this shall be handled by the Meeting as at (a) above. Equally if before a Motion has been formally moved/seconded any member present initially proposes that the motion be "referred back" then if duly seconded that motion will be handled also by the meeting as at (a) above.

12. A Motion on the Agenda of any meeting shall not be withdrawn except with the permission of two-thirds of those present who are entitled to vote.

13. In the event of a proposition "That the Meeting proceed to the next business" being moved and seconded, all further discussion on the matter before the Chair shall cease until the question is put to a vote. If the proposal is carried, the motion and amendments (if any) shall be deemed to have been disposed of and the next business shall be taken up. If defeated, the discussion on the motion shall be resumed.

14. A Motion "That the question be now put" shall be taken without discussion once it is moved and seconded. If carried by a majority the original motion and amendments (if any) shall be put without further discussion after the mover of the original motion has had an opportunity to reply to the debate.

15. Any Standing Order (with the exception of (2) and (3) above) may be suspended by resolution carried by two-thirds of those present who are entitled to vote.

 

Last Amended April 2009