Marie Sherlock (Labour) | Oireachtas source

The enactment of the Judicial Council guidelines was on the promise of a reduction in premiums. It is simply not acceptable to extend that further and for the insurance companies to say that they now need to see the outcome of decisions in the courts.

I wish to ask about excluding the value of State supports in the business interruption insurance payouts. I have heard the comments made about the wait-and-see approach being adopted. Industry representatives are awaiting engagement with the Minister. I find that extraordinary, given that these statements have been made knowing full well that in personal injury cases, insurance companies are required to provide a statement of recoverable benefit on the benefits that the injured party would have had to claim arising from personal injury, particularly with regard to loss of earnings and social welfare payments. Arising from that statement of recoverable benefit, the Department of Social Protection is reimbursed by the insurance company in respect of those payments that needed to be made because of the personal injury.

While FBD, Zurich and Aviva know that they must abide by one set of rules for public liability and employer liability in personal injury cases, are the witnesses now saying that they will abide by a different set of rules that they make up for themselves on the payout of business interruption claims?