Mr. Michael Horan:

We appreciate the stress involved of living in a flood hazard area. Insurance companies are in the business of providing insurance to as many people as possible. Obviously, if it is totally uneconomic to provide flood insurance, it will not be provided. However, that happens in respect of only a small minority of areas in the country. We aim to keep those areas and the percentage of people involved to a minimum. We believe we can do this if, through a process of engagement with the OPW, the flow of information about flood defences is improved to allow insurers to take it into account, thus preserving the model we have in this country. That is what we are aiming to achieve. We are trying to partner with Government to find a sustainable solution to the issue of availability of insurance cover.