Mr. Michael Kemp:

In the past, one of the difficulties has been that we operated somewhat in isolation and that the OPW and local authorities did their own thing. Sometimes there was a failure to consult in advance or to ensure that the measures taken were adequate from the point of view of risk assessment, which is the role of underwriters. One of the positive developments over the past couple of years is that there has been much more engagement on a bilateral basis with the OPW. We acknowledge that the flow of information is much improved and we are much more involved in the process. We would like to get to a stage, as we mentioned in the presentation, at which there is a standing liaison group, with others, not only us, involved.

The expertise that is available within the industry could be utilised in planning and executing flood defence works and in identifying problem areas. Over the past several years we have supplied information to the OPW to ascertain whether it can match its priority areas with locations where insurers have made significant pay outs on claims. That is how we see our role in these matters, apart from the indemnification of policy holders who have cover in the first place.