Gerry Horkan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I accept FBD has a remit, a mission statement and a core business and I am not telling the witnesses what to do. However, it seems from the figures we got this morning that €5 million has been collected in premiums in the past five years, about €200,000 had been paid out and about €800,000 has been placed in reserve against potential future claims. I am sure they are reasonably prudent returns. Our earlier witnesses seem to think that €4 million out of the €5 million is leaving the State because no company in the State, including FBD, is willing to take that risk. While I am not telling FBD what to do, I hope that somebody will be able to facilitate these businesses in the provision of family activities.

I hope that somebody will be able to facilitate these businesses in the provision of family activities. They may be obliged to close their doors because, at present, no one is facilitating them. Mr. McMahon made the point that FBD has 34 offices across the country and is involved with marts, farms and everything else. I am not telling him what to do. That is not the committee's role. However, it is something FBD should consider. I think I am right in saying that there is only one insurer dealing with the public house and restaurant industries at this stage. I am not saying that this is an area in which FBD wants to get involved, but I would prefer Ireland to be making the money.