Rose Conway Walsh (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank all of the delegations for their presentations. The representatives will appreciate that much of what we have heard is in line with what we have been hearing all day and what we heard yesterday. In any event, it is interesting to hear the different perspectives. I agree with almost all of them.

It was interesting to hear Mr. Fielding's comment to the effect that claims have only marginally increased, the figure cited was 22,800. In one way, that is at odds with the emphasis from IBEC to the effect that the main focus should be around reducing the amount of injury claims. Further examination is required in this area.

I absolutely agree with IBEC on the question of new entrants to the market and the blockages for them as well as the comments on the burden of reckless companies or companies which are not operating in the way they should, and how this puts a burden on those operating responsibly. I endorse what was discussed earlier - the idea that no one should be allowed to sell insurance in Ireland unless they are locked into a compensation fund. That is something we will certainly follow up at EU level. There needs to be greater congruence between the European Commission and ourselves in tackling many of these issues.

I thought the comments on the book of quantum were interesting, particularly regarding the precariousness around it and the danger that if the position is not put right, costs could increase further. We need to be mindful of that.

I like what was said about the endorsement by a senior member of the Judiciary. It will be problematic if we do not get buy-in from there. We should not be afraid to say, as Mr. Fielding noted, that judges need training.

I think they need training in a lot of areas. In this instance, we should all be open to training and to gathering expertise in respect of matters in respect of which developments are taking place all the time. If we can link that up as well, we will do some good.

I agree with all of the witnesses that insurance costs are crippling small businesses which have never made claims and which operate in a responsible way. This matter needs to be examined. Mr. Fielding mentioned the profits, the multiples and the comparisons that are made with UK counterparts. There are many different aspects to insurance that need to be examined. I do not want the committee to just focus on people who make claims. The reason we have insurance is to provide safeguards for individuals when accidents occur.

I agree with the suggestions in respect of having a common reporting matrix and for the Central Bank to enforce reporting procedures. I also completely agree with the call to reintroduce the MIAB. The latter made 67 recommendations, some of which have not been implemented. The fact that people have called for a return of the MIAB shows that it did not solve the core issues in the first instance. However, I support the calls for its reintroduction.

We have a great deal of work to do to resolve this matter. We will only make progress by working together and not being afraid to ask difficult questions. We also need to put pressure on people to supply the data that is required in order in order that we proceed on the basis of proper evidence as opposed to anecdotal information and, thus, pursuing the wrong people. When people are reluctant to submit proper information - such information is provided in other countries - then one must inquire as to what is being covered up and why that is being done. The committee and the Government need to uncover and unravel the real position in order to discover the crux of the problem. I thank all of the witnesses for their presentations.