Déarfaidh mé cúpla focal mar gheall ar Mhícheál Ó Súilleabháin ar dtús. Fear uasal ab ea é agus múinteoir agus ceoltóir iontach a bhí ann freisin.

I wish to address some issues relating to previous contributions on insurance. There is no doubt that we have a serious problem in this country. I have raised the issue on the floor of the House numerous times. It is inexplicable as to why-----

The Senator is allowed only two minutes.

A contribution relating to a comment about one of the greatest musicians of our time should not be taken as-----

I cannot change the Standing Orders.

We ignore them every day. The Senator should go on and ignore it.

I will take a leaf out of Senator Norris's book and carry on.

The Senator may be pulled up after two minutes.

Of course, if I had not been interrupted by the august Leas-Chathaoirleach, I would have finished by now.

The Leas-Chathaoirleach should stand up for himself.

The Senator is not the ruler of the universe.

There we have it. Anyway, in respect of the current situation, action must be taken. There is no rationale for us having awards four to five times greater in this country than across the water in the UK. There is something seriously wrong with our system and we need to address it. We have a serious problem when there is no consequence for perjury and fraud. If we listen to the insurance alliance in respect of the number of cases that have been taken on this issue in recent years and the number of convictions – which is nil – then it is clear that we have a serious problem. Whether that is because we are not using all the law available to us in the way we should or whether we need new law, I do not profess to be the expert.

We need to implement the law.

I know this much: people are being put out of business. Small and medium-sized businesses are struggling because of this and people are afraid to set up in business because of it. We need more certainty in these legal cases. Many people have endured the horror of insurance companies settling without consulting the person insured.

There have been many comments about the Taoiseach's comments, which are being misconstrued.

Come on.

I fully respect my colleagues who work in medicine, and I want to put that on the record of the House. I have worked on Christmas day myself as recently as last Christmas. Their commitment and the commitment of their families to our system are to be admired and cherished.

I thank the Senator.