asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he has any proposals to curtail pyramid selling.
21.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Pyramid Selling.
20.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will as a matter of urgency introduce amending legislation to prohibit companies from engaging in pyramid selling.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 20 and 21 together.
I am very perturbed about the activities of and techniques employed by some organisations which engage in pyramid selling. Pyramid selling does not appear to have made its appearance in this country except as an adjunct to operations in Britain, and I hope that the announced decision of the British Government to curb it will mean its disappearance from this country. Should it show a tendency to survive here, I shall certainly introduce legislation to control, and if necessary to ban it. In the meantime I urge the public to have nothing to do with this form of trading.
Is there any way in which the people who have found themselves out of money can get their money back?
The question of the people who have suffered financial loss through believing and taking at their face value the promises of pyramid sellers is one which, if the Deputy would have to provide chairmen at happy to answer as soon as possible.
Just to put it on the record, to prevent this type of fraudulent activity continuing, is the Minister aware that in some 100 instances in relation to one particular firm people were relieved of sums in excess of £650 each? What comeback have these people against this firm? I have a good mind to name the firm, but I might be out of order in so doing.
I am keeping a continuous watch on the situation, and I am aware of the instance to which the Deputy refers. The second part of the question is the same question I have undertaken to reply to for Deputy Lemass.
Is the Minister aware of the name of the firm, or could I let him have it?
I have a file of information about the firms practising pyramid selling, but I would be very happy if the Deputy would communicate to me the information he has.
I can certainly give the Minister the name of the firm I have in mind, which has been engaging in this kind of fraud over the last few months.
Has the Minister any ideas about how he could publicise this for the benefit of people who may be caught out in future, because it does appear that one of those firms were still recruiting comparatively recently? Is there any way in which the Minister could publicise his condemnation and his warning for potential suckers in this regard.
I think the House will be at one in regard to pyramid selling, and I hope that what we have said from both sides of the House at this Question Time will be widely reported. I propose to take the opportunity on some suitable occasion when I find myself speaking on some related subject to utter these warnings in other ways. Apart from asking the media to publicise what we have said here, and all of us utilising the opportunities with which we find ourselves, I cannot think of others ways. I think it is a responsibility that applies to all of us, not only to myself.
Would the Minister consider setting up an office in the Department of Industry and Commerce into which people who are inveigled into dubious business deals could 'phone and get information as to whether or not the kind of business that was being offered to them was something which they should get involved in?
I agree with the thought of the Deputy. I would hope that apart from occasional rashes of pyramid selling a separate office would not be a permanent requirement but the officers of my Department are happy to help the public if they are communicated with in this matter as in others.