asked the Minister for Finance whether he is aware that great hardship has been inflicted on a considerable number of persons who, through having lost their employment owing to the emergency situation, are unable to meet their obligations in regard to rent, house purchase agreements, hire purchase, buying and insurance policies, and whether he will introduce proposals for a moratorium in respect of such obligations where the persons concerned are unemployed or serving with the Defence Forces.
Ceisteanna.—Questions. Oral Answers. - Suggested Moratorium.
I am not aware that great hardship has been inflicated on a considerable number of persons arising out of the circumstances stated in the Deputy's question, but I am prepared to believe that some persons who lost their employment owing to the emergency situation are finding difficulty in meeting obligations incurred on the basis of their former incomes. The whole question of the steps necessary to mitigate the hardship falling on those put out of employment by reason of the emergency is receiving the constant attention of the Departments concerned, and the aspect of this matter to which the Deputy refers will not be overlooked, although, in this regard, I should add that the implication in the Question that members of the Defence Forces require the same relief as unemployed persons cannot be accepted.
It is not my intention to introduce proposals for a moratorium on the lines suggested by the Deputy, as there is no evidence that such a drastic step would be justified; moreover, even if conditions worsened, it would be most difficult to confine such a moratorium within satisfactory limits, and it would be essential to avoid any measure which might promote a public impression that obligations would not be honoured during the emergency and that all debtors would be protected from the normal consequences of default.
It would also be necessary to consider carefully the effect of any such proposals on the persons to whom the money payments such as rent, purchase instalments, etc., were due, and also on public and local finances.
I should like to say that it was not intended that these moratorium proposals should be extended to all classes of persons. The purpose of the question was merely to secure protection for those who could prove—and the onus was on them— that their present state of impecuniosity was brought about directly by the emergency situation. Is the Minister aware that at present persons who have lost their employment, arising out of the emergency situation, are having insurance policies lapsed and only a fragmentary surrender value paid, because, under existing insurance legislation, lapsing can take place when the arrears amount to ten weeks or over? Is he aware that persons are at present being evicted because of inability to pay rent, again due to the fact that they have lost their employment arising out of the emergency situation, and in order to steady a situation of that kind which threatens to worsen seriously, will the Minister give consideration to the provision of some kind of relief for persons who can definitely prove that their indebtedness has been brought about directly by the emergency situation?
I think the Deputy has practically repeated his question, to which I have given an answer, but I must say that, so far, I am not aware that many of these cases have arisen. I have asked in the various Departments which might be notified of such happenings and I have not been able to get satisfactory evidence there either. If the Deputy, or anybody else, is able to give me such evidence, I shall have the cases examined.
If the Minister would seek information from persons who are charged with the responsibility of collecting insurance premiums at present, he would be furnished with information to the effect that policies are lapsing at an alarming rate, due to the inability of people to pay premiums on such policies.
If they are happening at an alarming rate, I imagine that I should have had evidence brought, probably forcibly, to my notice, but I have not got such evidence.
I shall see that the Minister gets it.
In as much as the Government consolidated all the industrial insurance of the country in the hands of one company, can the Minister not drop a post card to that company and ask for particulars?