Marc MacSharry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Yes, I have a question for AIG. Why, heretofore, has it not opted for the test case route? Arbitration is in secret, costs on average €100,000 per claimant and is non-binding, whereas a test case, according to the guidance outlined by the Central Bank, prescribes that AIG as the insurer would pay the reasonable cost, it would all be in public and that if the test case were to prove beneficial to a client, those benefits would accrue to other clients insured with the company. Is it not, therefore, fairer? At the risk of my being totally wrong, and I will give the representatives of AIG an opportunity to defend themselves, is AIG actively avoiding the test case route because of the fact that it may expose the company?