asked the Minister for Industry, Trade, Commerce and Tourism if he is aware of the crisis position that exists in the writing of non-life assurance; the number of insurers who are sustaining substantial losses each year and the difficulties that creates for insurers and consumers alike; and if he will take steps to insure the protection of all interests involved.

I do not accept that a crisis exists in the writing of non-life insurance business in this country. Non-life insurers in Ireland are operating in difficult conditions, in common with most other insurance markets worldwide. The industry has taken corrective measures, including premium rate increases, to improve matters and these are already showing fruit. Excluding the largest motor insurer which as the Deputy knows is under administration, and the inclusion of whose reported results would distort the true picture, underwriting results improved in 1983 over 1982 with losses reduced from 21 per cent to 18½ per cent of premiums written. Market underwriting performance improved in five of the seven main accounting classes, and two of these classes recorded an underwriting profit during 1983.

It is important to bear in mind that, while financial results may vary from year to year, the Irish insurance industry is basically sound and customers need have no worries about doing business with it.

It is becoming increasingly more difficult to get the Minister of State to accept that there is a crisis as far as the insurance business is concerned in the non-life area. Would the Minister now confirm that the 40 non-life companies operating at present sustained losses in excess £40 million last year? Does he regard that as satisfactory? No company in the non-life sector returned a trading profit last year.

I emphatically refute the suggestion that there is a crisis in this industry. There is not. As a former Minister in the Department it is somewhat irresponsible of the Deputy to put down this question and to pursue it in the manner in which he has done. Not only is there not a crisis but my Department are not aware of any insurer intending to pull out of the market.

It is bordering on the incredulous that the Minister cannot comprehend——

We should not have argument.

The dogs in the street are talking about it. In order to allay all our fears, will the Minister of State give an indication of when the blue book on insurance will be published for this year so that we will all know the truth as far as losses are concerned?

I hope the blue book will be published in February.