Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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The Chairman's suggestion is useful because in this area, the decision to initiate a comprehensive conversation with the Irish Insurance Federation was an initiative of the Office of Public Works. It is fair to state this is very much part of the work programme within that office. The Chairman rightly pointed out the substantial investment the State has expended in recent years and I take this opportunity to thank the Government for the capital envelope of expenditure, which effectively is approximately €45 million per annum over a five-year period. Progress is required from the Irish Insurance Federation. I am glad to be able to report to members that we have had this conversation with it each month this year. I am relatively optimistic that we will be able to come to agree on a memorandum of understanding by the summertime. Moreover, I hope such a memorandum of understanding will do two things. First, it should agree that the Irish Insurance Federation will accept that in the great majority of cases, the works the OPW has carried out are to the 101-year standard. That is the first point, namely, where the Government has expended the money, the insurance companies would know the works it has carried out have actually met that standard. Second, there should be an ongoing dialogue between the Office of Public Works and the insurers on the pipeline of other developments and schemes the OPW intends to bring forward and other schemes. While the Government cannot give comfort to people in locations where a scheme has not been put in place, where such a scheme has been implemented and the State has expended substantial sums of money, it is only right and proper that the insurance industry would recognise that fact, given the standard this office has brought to bear in its work. Consequently, I am hopeful and optimistic that such an understanding can be reached. I believe it will help to give some comfort to people where the OPW has completed schemes in locations such as Clonmel and Fermoy, where all these works have been brought to the exacting standard the OPW has now ensured. In such cases, it is important, right and only proper that the insurance industry would take note of this and provide insurance accordingly.