Paddy Burke (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the members of the deputations. Four areas were mentioned, namely, the cost of the awards, the number of awards, the legal costs and the false claims. Who do the witnesses believe should correlate that information to determine which of those factors is the reason for the increasing costs or if it a combination of all of them? I know a publican whose insurance cost annually was in the region of €27,000 but in the past 12 months, that figure has increased to €67,000. That is an enormous increase. It is a pub in a commercial town that offers food. It does not have a very late bar but it has had a number of claims. An increase to €67,000 is enormous and that is probably put down to the claims.

Have the witnesses examined the new book of quantum published recently to see how it fares in terms of awards made arising from claims in the trade business? Publicans will not be able to justify those costs, which are probably a bigger charge than the rent of the property, rates or both combined. With regard to motor insurance, particularly in terms of the haulage business, the Government decided to reduce road tax for hauliers but following that the insurance companies increased their costs. The insurance companies tune in to these issues and I would be interested to know how we can help with regard to going through those, whether it is the awards, the costs, the legal expenses or whatever, and how all that information can be brought together to put pressure on the insurance companies.