TEMPERS flared at the EBS annual general meeting yesterday, as chairman Mr Henry O'Dwyer angrily dismissed suggestions that ordinary members should be elected to the society's board.

In a sharp exchange with one of the society's members, Mr O'Dwyer said such a move was "not necessary". He said the building society - which is owned by its members - did not want to see anyone "foisted" on to its board "like in the semi states".

The controversy arose after EBS member, Mr Paul O'Byrne told the meeting that savers who qualified as members of the society "had a better chance of winning the Lotto than joining the board".

His suggestions that the EBS should consider allowing ordinary members to take an active role in the management of the society drew an angry response from the chairman.

"We are all members," Mr O'Dwyer said. The board was not a cosy club".

"What do you want? Is it a board of 20, 30 or 40 people maybe?" the chairman asked. "You can't have selective management," he said. Such a concept was "outdated".

Why did you bring it up now?" he continued. "Is it yourself you want on the board?" While apologising later to Mr O'Byrne for his remarks, Mr O'Dwyer asked him if he "understood" the concept of management.

The issue of board membership had previously been raised by a number of other members during the 90 minute meeting.

Mr O'Dwyer suggested that members could choose to put their names forward to compete for election to the board, but that he felt such a move was unnecessary.

"It has operated like this for the past 61 years, and we have had no problems so far," he said.

Management today, Mr O'Dwyer said, had to be "on its toes". The suitability of directors would have to be considered, he said.

A broader management concept "may not be any better" for the society, he said.

EBS chief executive Mr Patrick O'Reilly said the society had shown "excellent accountability" to its members. This, he said, was partly because of statutory regulations, but also due to a "very vigilant media" which were "very quick to report any discrepancies they can see".

Mr O'Dwyer told the meeting that the board had a "strong commitment" to remaining a mutual society.

To ensure greater equity among its customers, he said the society intended to amend its constitution to give borrowers the same rights to speak or vote on its resolutions as savers, giving all customers "democratic rights" within the society. The amendment, he said, would "broaden the concept of mutuality".