Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 27 Nov 1990

Vol. 403 No. 1

Written Answers. - Moneylending Practices.

Michael Bell

Ceist:

44 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Justice whether, in relation to proposals to update the law in regard to moneylending, both legal and illegal, he has considered the report of the Combat Poverty Agency Moneylending and Low Income Families; whether he has concluded a review of the issue with the Minister for Industry and Commerce with a view to countering disreputable practices through the regulation and control of moneylending; the number of prosecutions taken and convictions recorded for same in the period 1986 to 1989; whether he has been in contact with the Minister for Social Welfare on this subject since 21 November 1988; the number of moneylending licences on issue in 1988 and at present; and whether he has satisfied himself with the present state of the law in this area.

Minister for Justice (Mr. Burke)

A review of the legislation on moneylending is in progress, involving the Departments of Justice and Industry and Commerce in consultation with the Department of Social Welfare. The Combat Poverty Agency report referred to has been considered in the context of this review.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that they pursue actively all alleged breaches of the law which are reported to them in relation to moneylending and that it is their policy to initiate prosecutions in any cases where sufficient evidence can be gathered to warrant such action. The following are the figures for prosecutions and convictions recorded in the years 1986 to 1989: 1986 — 5 prosecutions, no conviction; 1987 — 1 prosecution, 1 conviction; 1988 — 3 prosecutions, 3 convictions; 1989 — no prosecution, no conviction.

One hundred and twenty moneylenders licences were issued in 1988 and 130 were issued in 1990.