asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce the prospects which people who have suffered serious financial loss as a result of having been hoaxed by pyramid sales promoters have of securing compensation under the law or by Government intervention.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Pyramid Sales.
5.
The question whether people who may have suffered loss as a result of pyramid selling schemes can obtain legal redress is one for their legal advisers. There is no prospect of compensation being secured through Government intervention.
I understood the Minister to say to me last week in reply to some supplementary questions that, if I would table this question, he would give me a comprehensive answer. In effect he is saying that he will not do anything about it at all.
I said I would give the Deputy an answer if he tabled a question. He tabled the question and that is the answer.
Has the Minister any power to take action against particular companies who are operating here?
I have not got power at this time to ban them, but the evolution of the situation is being continuously watched. If I am satisfied that, as a result of initiatives in Britain, they wish to transfer their operations here, or they become a serious threat, I will certainly seek power to do so.
Is the Minister aware that there is a particular company operating here at the moment?
I am aware that there is more than one company operating at the moment. They are under continuous and close surveillance.
Why did the Minister give a much more comprehensive reply to a Deputy in his own benches than he gave to me?
Question No. 6.
Would the Minister ask his colleague, the Minister for Justice, to get the Garda Fraud Squad to examine these companies with a view to getting them out of the country as quickly as possible?
I will certainly convey the Deputy's request to my colleague.