asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if any scheme of amalgamation as provided for under Part III, Section 28 (1) of the Insurance Act, 1936, has been submitted to him, and, if so, will he state the names of the promoting companies; whether the scheme has been approved by him in accordance with Section 30 of the Act, and whether he has applied to the High Court for confirmation and sanction as required by Section 31 (1); further, if, before giving his approval to any scheme of amalgamation as provided for by the Act, he will cause to be inserted in such scheme, provision for continuance in employment by amalgamated company of existing staffs of promoting companies, and for provision for adequate compensation to be paid to such employees as will be rendered redundant by such scheme of amalgamation; also, if he will cause to be inserted in such scheme provision excluding from the employment of any amalgamated company any person not in regular full-time employment.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Insurance Amalgamation Scheme.
An amalgamation scheme under Part III of the Insurance Act, 1936, has not yet been submitted to me. I understand, however, that a scheme of amalgamation is at present in course of preparation. With regard to the second part of the question, I should not be prepared to approve of any amalgamation scheme which did not deal with existing staffs in a manner which I could regard as satisfactory. As regards the last part of the question, while I would not consider part-time employment in the amalgamated company as desirable, I do not feel that it would be practicable to provide in the scheme for the exclusion of part-time employment.