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Seanad
‹ Order of Business

Insurance settlement costs

Summary

Senator Lawlor criticised high insurance awards and legal costs, saying the system burdens citizens and needs action.

I have received a number of angry emails in the past week on a settlement of €550,000 that was made in the High Court to someone who had done something totally stupid. Insurance awards are four and a half times higher here than in the United Kingdom. For every €100,000 that is awarded, €42,000 goes on legal and other associated costs. The €550,000 settlement that was made last week will result in an additional €200,000 in costs. Whether one is paying home insurance, motor insurance or business insurance, that impacts on every citizen. Something has to be done about this. I ask the Leader to invite the Minister with responsibility for the matter to the House to debate it and discuss the need for the courts to make realistic payments, as opposed to the payment made at the weekend to someone who did something stupid. In the old days, we used to grab onto a truck to be pulled along on our cart or bicycle. We knew that if we fell off, it would be our fault and that we would not be able to go after anyone else. Last week a payment was made to someone who had done something totally stupid. If this is the way our insurance payouts will go in the future, we need to do something about it.

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