Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Cuirim fáilte roimh na finnéithe. I thank the witnesses for coming before the committee and for all the work they do on behalf of their organisations. I would like to ask Mr. McDonnell about the Consumer Insurance Contracts Bill, which I proposed in this House. It was passed by the House six months ago and signed into law by the President, Michael D. Higgins, on St. Stephen's Day of last year. It was described by the Alliance for Insurance Reform as a game changer. The legislation offers new protection for consumers and SMEs in their insurance contracts, for example by requiring insurance companies to inform small businesses of any third party claims made against them. It gives SMEs the right to give evidence in disputing those claims. It makes it clear that where there is ambiguity in a contract, the contract has to be read in favour of SMEs. I am sure many vintners would like to avail of that legislation as they battle with insurance companies in the courts at present. Mr. McDonnell has probably heard that the Minister for Finance, after meeting the insurance industry, has decided not to give effect to that legislation. What signal, if any, does that send out to the small and medium-sized companies represented by ISME?