asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state whether he is aware that a large number of lorry owners whose lorries had been bought under the hire purchase system have been seriously affected by the shortage of petrol, and are suffering from a fall of income, which prevents them making their periodic purchase payments, and if he will state whether he proposes to take any emergency steps to enable such persons to retain their lorries which in many cases are their only source of any income.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Petrol Supply for Lorry Owners.
I have no information as to the number of lorry owners whose lorries are obtained under the hire purchase system. I am aware that the business of lorry owners, whether they have purchased their lorries for cash or have obtained them by hire purchase, is affected by the petrol shortage, but I am not satisfied that a case exists which would justify me in taking emergency measures to intervene between the parties to these hire purchase contracts.
Is the position then that the Minister takes lightly the fact that not only have men lost their occupations as a result of the petrol shortage, but that they are going to find themselves, if the petrol situation improves, in the position that they will have also lost the machinery that would enable them to take advantage of the changed situation?
I do not think anything I said would justify the Deputy in assuming that I am taking that situation quite lightly. Having looked into the matter, I am not satisfied that a case exists which would justify me in intervening between the parties to these hire-purchase contracts.
Will the Minister receive representations from persons who find that they are going to lose their lorries with a view to getting a full estimate of the situation and then taking action? Does he not appreciate what a disaster it would be for a person to lose a lorry which was the whole machinery of his business?
The Deputy must agree that in the present circumstances we could not undertake the liabilities of every person likely to be affected by the present emergency.
Nobody is asking the Minister to accept liability for anything. We are merely asking him whether he has made any estimate of the situation and does he realise the hardships and dangers arising out of the present position. What steps does he propose to take to see that unnecessary hardship and loss will not be caused by the operation of claims against purchasers under the hire-purchase system?
The State liability must stop somewhere.
Does the Minister suggest that these men should lose their lorries?