Gerry Horkan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I would like to refer to one aspect of public liability insurance. Members of both of the publicans' representative bodies were here before Christmas. Every member of the committee is being asked about this issue. Like the Minister of State when he is at a wedding, we are always being told about individual cases. The two-year Statute of Limitations that applies in this area means that someone can arrive into a pub 23 months after an incident and say that he or she slipped there almost two years ago and wants to make a claim. The likelihood of CCTV footage being available in such circumstances is very slim. In the hospitality industry, the likelihood of staff members still being there after almost two years is very slim. What moves are being made? We all want people who make genuine claims after suffering injuries through no fault of their own to be compensated. Equally, by allowing claims to be made after 23 months, we are making it almost impossible for people to defend their positions.