asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if in view of the growth of hire-purchase facilities generally, and the implications involved in their development, he will hold a public enquiry into the whole question of hire-purchase arrangements.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Hire Purchase Arrangements.
16.
I am not aware of the existence of any circumstances which would make it necessary or desirable to hold a public enquiry in relation to the matter mentioned by the Deputy.
Arising out of that reply, does the Minister recall a practice, the nature of which I brought to the notice of his Department, of persons entering into hire purchase agreements and then disposing of the merchandise to the persons who had promoted the hire purchase agreements, for substantially less than they bought the articles, in exchange for a cash sum and then paying off by the original instalments of the hire purchase agreements to the grave detriment of the family finances of the families concerned? Is the Minister satisfied that abuse no longer exists?
I am aware that the Deputy did bring such a practice to my attention during the course of the recent Hire Purchase Bill. I made inquiries and I found that the practice the Deputy mentioned was not very widespread and did not call for any special action by me as Minister for Industry and Commerce.