IFSRA has told the Irish Nationwide Building Society to table a resolution on demutualisation at April's AGM.
Shane Hogan, one of a group which has been campaigning for changes at the society, said a resolution in his name directing the board to advise IFSRA by the end of the year of its intention to demutualise had earlier been rejected.
But a spokesman for Irish Nationwide said the society had told IFSRA that it would be putting down its own motion on demutualisation to the AGM.
He said new legislation covering the issue was being prepared, and the society's position had always been that it would be inappropriate to take any further decision until this was passed by the Oireachtas. He added that the society would deal with the issue in an orderly manner.
Earlier this year, Brendan Burgess announced that he would be seeking election to the society's board. IFSRA has also directed the INBS board to circulate statements from him calling on members to vote for him as a director.
Mr Hogan said that a vote for the demutualisation resolution would mean that the board would have to start the process this year, regardless of proposed changes to the Building Societies Act.
