Labhrás Ó Murchú (Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I apologise - I was delayed in the Seanad until now. Coming from County Tipperary, I am very familiar with these problems and can remember the situation in Clonmel down through the years - it was traumatic. I am also aware of the difficulties on the insurance front. We have just come through a very competitive period for the insurance industry and are possibly exiting it, which means companies can be more selective into the future. Therefore, instead of the position improving I can see it getting worse. I do not see how we can have a solution unless there is a partnership between the State and the insurance industry. If we need an example, let us look at the private health insurance sector. There is no doubt that the Government had an input into the demarcation lines there. For example, if I have been paying for private health insurance for ten or 12 years and then get a bad run of health it is not possible for the insurance company to tell me it will not continue to cover me. That is the position. In my view, there is no difference between that and the situation in regard to property insurance.

We should take up Mr. Dempsey's point and bring those witnesses to the committee because we need to hear from them. In the very same way, we brought in witnesses at the time of the debate on private health insurance. There is almost a no-person's land involved here - people cannot see anybody coming to their aid. The insurance industry will not be enthusiastic about participating. For that reason, I believe a person is just as entitled to consideration from the State, whether this is via a protocol, a procedure or legislation. This should not be the final hearing - we need more hearings in order to keep up the momentum until there is a focus on arriving at a proper solution.