Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour) | Oireachtas source

It is not a comment but a question. Many members of the Irish Insurance Federation operate in international markets. Across Europe international standards apply and provision is made for events that happen perhaps at intervals of 100 years, 150 years and 200 years. There is an international certification for events that happen at those intervals, such as coastal flooding and the one-off weather event or what is known as monster rain. Has the Irish Insurance Federation conducted any research into the levels operating in Ireland? The OPW operates under the criteria of the international standards, the 100 year, the 150 and 200 year event. I notice insurance companies insure over a 100 year event. Is there an easier way of moving that certification? Time is an element that is causing many different problems. Is there a way of moving to the certification to which the local authorities and the OPW work? Some of the insurance companies work on an European wide basis to this standard of certification, but this does not apply in Ireland.