asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state in detail the proposals he intends to implement relative to the commitments of the Equitable Insurance Company Limited; and the date by which these proposals will become operative.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Equitable Insurance Company.
8.
I have nothing to add to the reply given by me to questions on this subject on 28th April, 1964, except that I hope to introduce legislation in the very near future.
Will the Minister indicate whether this legislation will cover all the commitments of the Equitable Insurance Company, Limited, relative to third party as well?
It will cover the commitments of insured persons in the controlled classes of insurance other than those covered by the Motor Insurers' Bureau.
The controlled classes where people are legally obliged to insure, but not otherwise?
It will, for instance, cover workmen's compensation.
Will it cover third party risks?
If Deputies would like to wait, the Bill will be circulated shortly.
It is not Deputies who are concerned; it is the people who are waiting for months who are concerned.
Surely the Minister must be aware that at the moment there are cases pending in the courts regarding claims against employers by insured workmen? Difficulties are created for both sides because nobody knows whether this legislation will cover that type of case or not. Would the Minister give an indication——
I have just told the Deputy that workmen's compensation——
I am speaking about Common Law claims and I should like to know whether that kind of case will be covered.
The Deputy will appreciate that there are certain procedures involved in the presentation of the Bill. It has to go through the Department proposing the legislation, through the Parliamentary Draftsman and through the Government in its different Stages. One of the Stages has not been reached and I expect it will be introduced next week.
I can appreciate that. The Minister has indicated that the legislation will cover workmen's compensation, and if he is in a position to divulge that surely he can say whether it will cover Common Law?
I have said as much as I can. I do not think that the matter raised by the Deputy arises out of the question being answered.