Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 10 October 2012

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform

Quinn Insurance and Insurance Compensation Fund: Discussion

2:50 pm

Mr. Michael McAteer:

In regard to the asset write-off, the €152 million figure is broken down into two components. In our calculation for the Insurance Compensation Fund, we had previously estimated a return on our investment in Liberty Insurance of €92 million. For the sake of prudence, however, we have written off that investment in our 2010 accounts. If we do get a return on our investment, it will ultimately reduce the €1.65 billion call on the fund. That accounts for €92 million of the €152 million. The remaining €60 million relates to the large number of property assets on the company's balance sheet. It is normal accounting practice to value those types of assets every year. They would have included the buildings in Cavan, Fermanagh, Dublin and Cork, a hotel in Cambridge, an office block in Manchester, a hotel in Krakow and a hotel in Sofia. These property movements would be reflected in the audited accounts based on the current valuation.