Insurance costs
Deputy Moynihan highlighted sharp rises in insurance premiums for businesses and entertainment providers and said promised reform was not happening. The Tánaiste replied that reforms had had some effect, though more work remained and some sectors were still facing severe hikes.
I have to again raise the issue of insurance costs. Like many other Deputies, I have been contacted regularly by people who have been given exorbitant quotes for insurance cover, particularly those in the child play area and those who provide entertainment both on and off campus. I have a note of a case where the person concerned got insurance cover for €3,000 in 2015 and the cheapest quote that person have been able to get today in 2019 is €23,500. Many fine words have been spoken about insurance reform but nothing is happening about it. Will the Tánaiste commit the Government to addressing once and for all this desperately serious issue and the challenges facing people and do something about it? That man who contacted me about that quote who is providing significant employment in his community will have to close his business if he cannot get a quote under the almost €24,000 he was given.
Comment on this
It is not true to say that nothing is happening regarding insurance. We have acted on a number of reports and there has been a significant levelling out of insurance premiums in certain sectors. That is not to say that there is not more work to do. Specific sectors are facing very significant insurance hikes right now. We had a debate on one of those, namely, child play areas and businesses, either last week or the week before, and it was highlighted that some people are being put out of business because of insurance increases. I am conscious there is more work to do but this is a continuing challenge for the Government on which we are working.