Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I refer to business interruption. We have discussed this in detail in our meetings and I appreciated that opportunity. On 27 March 2020 Mr. Makhlouf wrote to the CEOs of the Irish-regulated insurance companies setting out his expectations and those of the Central Bank in light of Covid-19. He stated in that letter: "...where a claim can be made because a business has closed, as a result of a Government direction due to contagious or infectious disease, that the recent Government advice to close a business in the context of COVID-19 should be treated as a direction". I welcome that letter. Is Mr. Makhlouf aware of major insurance companies in this State refusing to accept the direction he issued to them in that letter and are challenging claimants on the basis that it was not a direction to close and are challenging that both in the courts and in refusing claims?