Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan, please.

It is a shame it has become this competition of who can shout the loudest and who can bang their desk the hardest.

I did not bang the desk.

I will continue with my question which relates to insurance - I am delighted the Minister of State responsible for insurance is here - especially insurance for festivals and events. We are into June and in the middle of festival season especially where I am from in west Cork where every town and village has the most colourful and vibrant festival imaginable. Unfortunately, many of these festivals are struggling to get access to insurance. It is not only festivals but also charity and community events for which access to insurance can be a big issue. In many cases in west Cork, they are having to seek insurance outside Ireland. This should not continue and it is not sustainable. Is it possible for the State to set up an insurance fund where it can step in where events are struggling to get insurance? I hope the Minister of State may have some positive news on this.

I thank the Deputy for his question. He is right. There has been an extension of insurers which have been working with local authorities in regard to community events and festivals. I will speak to the Deputy directly on the particular issues in Cork South-West to see if there is anything further that can be done there. The State has not intervened in the insurance market as a consequence of the European insolvency directive which states that the State may not do that in the same way. However, we are trying to maintain conditions so that more insurers will come into the market with an extension of risk appetite and change the conditions in order that groups that have not been able to get insurance, particularly post-Brexit, can come together and buy insurance in a slightly different way. I am very happy to pick up the issue in Cork South-West directly with the Deputy.