asked the Minister for Finance whether any arrangement has been made with any British assurance company in respect to deductions from civil servants' salaries of premiums on insurance policies; if so, what the nature of the arrangement is, and whether similar facilities have been offered to Irish assurance companies.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - CIVIL SERVANTS' INSURANCE PREMIUMS.
DOMHNALL O MUIRGHEASA
No new arrangement of the kind referred to by the Deputy has been made since the establishment of Saorstát Eireann, but an arrangement which was in being at the change of Government with the North British and Mercantile Insurance Company has been continued. The arrangement provides for the taking out of life insurances with the company mentioned through a body called the Civil Service Insurance Society and quarterly deductions in respect of premiums are made from salary at the request of any civil servant insuring under this scheme and are paid direct to the company's head office. The question of facilities for deduction of life insurance premiums from salary is one for civil servants themselves to raise. I am not aware that there has been any request for an extension of the present arrangement from the representatives of the Civil Service staffs.
Recently it was proposed by representatives of the Service that where civil servants effected insurances on their lives as security for loans for the purpose of building or purchasing houses for their own occupation arrangements should be made for the deduction quarterly of premiums from salary, and after consideration this proposal was agreed to. The arrangement is applicable to insurances effected with any insurance company registered in Saorstát Eireann.
Am I to understand from the Minister's reply that the Department has refused to give to Irish assurance companies the facilities that are now enjoyed by at least one British assurance company?
I did not say that.
Is that not the effect of the Minister's answer?
Is the Minister aware that the Prudential Assurance Company has similar facilities to the company mentioned?
I am not aware of it.