Up to 60 credit union members now look likely to travel to Brisbane in June for a conference of the World Council of Credit Unions in a move that could cause controversy within the credit union movement.

The chief executive of the Irish League of Credit Unions (ILCU), Mr Liam O'Dwyer, defended the group's plans and said the conference in Australia would be a major learning experience for Irish delegates who needed to keep in touch with trends in other countries.

He said eight board members of the ILCU intended to travel at this stage, while over 50 people from individual credit unions were also likely to attend. He said the eight would have their bills paid for by the ILCU, while the others would be financed by their own local unions.

The size of the group travelling is likely to cost the credit union movement a considerable sum, with a single return ticket to Brisbane costing £730 sterling (€1,053) from Heathrow.

Mr O'Dwyer said spouses would also have their airfares paid, although their other expenses would not be covered. Continuing controversy about expenses and trips within the credit union movement may be raised at the biennial conference of the ILCU this weekend in Waterford.

Mr O'Dwyer, in an interview with The Irish Times, said the volunteer nature of the movement meant expenses had to be paid to members who travelled the country to attend meetings.

He said meals, hotels and wear and tear on people's cars had to be met by the league. "Ultimately people cannot end up being out of pocket. Otherwise the only people able to get involved will be well-off people."

Meanwhile a significant credit union, St Mary's in Navan, Co Meath, has this week voted to leave the ILCU. The development came as a "bolt from the blue" according to one source, as the credit union was not one of the 12 that have been threatened with expulsion for not using the league's supplier of life insurance.

A spokesman for St Mary's could not be contacted, but a spokesman for the league confirmed that the credit union had voted to disaffiliate.

The credit union is considered to be one of the more progressive credit unions and has paid its premium to the ILCU for this year.

This weekend's conference is expected to deal with several controversial issues including the stance of 12 so-called "dissident" credit unions and the disastrous ISIS project, which cost the league € 35 million.

Mr O'Dwyer is expected to tell members that new structures have been put in place to prevent such losses in future.