Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

The Taoiseach will be aware that one of the major obstacles to encouraging greater voluntary and community effort, particularly in the provision of activities for young people, is the excessive premium cost of public liability insurance. Many once-thriving activities, particularly during the summer periods, outdoor and sporting activities for young people, especially out of school, have not continued due to the excessive cost. This is very demoralising for many communities and it stifles the active citizenship that we are all trying to encourage. Has the Taoiseach noted that the task force on active citizenship has examined this issue? Does he agree with the task force that continued efforts to reduce insurance costs and minimise litigation is absolutely essential?

The task force has also highlighted the work done by the national Irish community and voluntary fora in developing a group insurance scheme. This is open to membership for all community and voluntary fora throughout the country. Does the Taoiseach share my concern that there is an inadequate awareness of this initiative? Has he come across it in his role as a Deputy, quite apart from his role as Taoiseach, that local groups are simply not informed of the alternative of coming together under this umbrella group insurance scheme? Does the Taoiseach agree that a much more proactive promotional effort of the alternative means of funding public liability insurance would be a worthwhile initiative in helping to resurrect many fine community initiatives and to encourage people to overcome the difficulties public liability insurance has presented time and again? Will he act on the recommendation of the task force that the group insurance scheme open to members of all local community and voluntary fora should be widely promoted?

See this speech in context