Motions of no confidence in four directors of ISME, the small firms lobby group, were deferred at a rancorous meeting in Portlaoise yesterday. The group is to revamp its constitution to expand the number of directors on its board and to hold an e.g.m. in June.

The motions, which relate to founder members Mr Eoghan Hynes, Mr Terry Hobdell and Mr David Dixon, as well as Ms Irene Bergin, were tabled by Wexford-based national council member Mr Jim Wallace.

Voting on them was deferred on the casting vote of chairman Mr Seamus Butler. The motions followed months of bitter internal wrangling which has seen the temporary removal of director Mr Frank Mulcahy and the permanent removal of cofounder and ISME shareholder, Mr Don Curry.

The organisation has also been riven by claims and counterclaims involving misappropriation of money. The directors have called in the Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation over the running of a EU-backed management training course.

Mr Wallace said last night that he was disappointed that the directors had not compromised on suggestions that one of them resign and the national council appoint five members to the ISME Ltd board, the holding company for the group.

Mr Seamus Butler said the meeting had made some progress and a new constitution had been drafted to allow for expansion of the board to include seven directors nominated by the national council.