asked the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Tourism the latest year for which accounts of insurance companies have been presented to the Oireachtas pursuant to section 27 of the Insurance Act, 1909.

4.

asked the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Tourism the latest year for which the annual report of the Irish Life Assurance Company has been presented to the Oireachtas pursuant to section 27 of the Insurance Act, 1909, and if he has satisfied himself with the promptitude of the presentation of annual reports by this company.

With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 3 and 4 together.

The latest year for which the accounts of insurance companies, including the Irish Life Assurance Company have been made available to the Oireachtas pursuant to section 27 of the Insurance Act, 1909 is 1978. The annual report and returns of the Irish Life Assurance Company Limited are submitted in good time each year, that is to say they are presented within the period prescribed in the legislation.

When were the 1978 accounts presented?

Is the Deputy referring to the company mentioned or is he referring to the whole lot?

They were presented together.

The companies had to present their accounts to my Department within six months of the end of their financial year and the Irish Life Assurance Company did that, as I believe the others did also. The general accounts and returns for 1978 were presented to the Dáil and Seanad on 22 January 1980 which was the date of the publication of the Blue Book.