(Limerick East): I propose to take Questions Nos. 16 and 17 together.
As regards Question No. 16, it is an offence under the Pension Books (Prohibition of Alienation) Act, 1932 as extended by the Widows' and Orphans' Pensions Act, 1935, section 63, the Children's Allowance Act, 1944, section 17, the Social Welfare Act, 1952, section 63 and the Defence Act, 1954, section 263, to take an allowance or pension book as security for a loan. If a licensed moneylender is shown to have acted in this manner he would risk prosecution as well as refusal of his application for a certificate of fitness on the ground that he was not a "fit and proper person to hold a certificate". I have no evidence that these provisions are inadequate. No reports of complaints have been made to the Garda or myself of moneylenders holding allowance or pension books as security for loans.
If, however, any evidence of moneylenders engaging in such practice is brought to the attention of the Garda they will take appropriate action including, if the evidence is sufficient, criminal proceedings. Accordingly, if the Deputy has any particular case in mind I would invite him to bring it to the notice of the local Garda.
As regards Question No. 17, it is not clear from the question what specific activities the Deputy has in mind. In this context the Deputy will be aware that I have answered a number of questions in the recent past in relation to various aspects of moneylending. I refer the Deputy to replies to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 625 — Volume 354, No. 6, column 1216 — of 29 November 1984; 640 and 641 — Volume 355, No. 10, columns 2221 and 2222 — of 12 February 1985; and 480 — Volume 355, No. 11, columns 2461 and 2462 — of 13 February 1985. When answering these questions I also mentioned the position of the Garda Síochána and suggested that Deputies should bring any particular cases they might have in mind to the notice of the local Garda.