Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

Even The Sunday Business Post article to which the Deputy referred acknowledges that insurance costs have decreased. Motor insurance and home insurance costs have fallen to 1999 levels.

I refer the Deputy to a recent IBEC press release dated 2 November, which carried the heading "Rate of personal injuries claims falling". It was reported on "Drivetime" on Friday, 10 November that the number of employee insurance claims in recent years indicates a downward trend in claims against business by as much as 40% in real terms, from almost 12,000 claims per year in the period to 2002 to approximately 7,000 per year in the past three years. Court writs in personal injury claims which numbered on average 33,000 per year up to 2004 were down to 4,000 in 2005. That is not a basket case of an enterprise.

Insurance costs also show significant decline with room for further improvement on an ongoing basis. Insurance costs have come down. The chairperson of PIAB addressed an Oireachtas committee on 18 October at which meeting I understand Deputies and Senators welcomed the positive impact of the PIAB. The commentary at that meeting does not fit neatly with Deputy Jim O'Keeffe's commentary this afternoon.

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