asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state whether the Irish insurance company referred to in his speech in the Dáil on the Second Stage of the Insurance Bill, 1952, as having already a premium income from external business amounting to over £500,000 is a member of the Irish Insurance Association; and, if so, the name of the company.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Irish Insurance Company.
The company I had in mind is one of the home-controlled Irish companies. The statutory returns, when published, will show the premium income of each company for 1952 and succeeding years. In the meantime I do not consider that it would be appropriate to give the name of the company, or, for the reasons given in reply to questions in Dáil Éireann on the 4th and 19th March, 1953, to say whether the company is a member of the Irish Insurance Association.
What is the difficultyin regard to getting information every time I ask a question in regard to foreign insurance companies in this country? I would like to know what is wrong that I cannot get the information I ask for?
The Deputy is asking for information concerning privately-owned concerns.
The only Irish insurance company with £500,000 premium was bought over 40 years ago and is now under foreign control. I am like a man looking for information from Scotland Yard and I cannot understand why I cannot get the information I seek. One would imagine that we were foreigners in our own country in regard to asking questions relating to foreign combines.