Alex White (Dublin South, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I do not believe I can add further to the reply I gave earlier. I acknowledge the strength of the arguments Deputy Daly has made and the undoubted frustration, and worse, experienced by his constituents when faced with these eventualities. Indeed, I am familiar with similar experience in other parts of the country, including in my constituency. Other Deputies will have experience of this also. It is real problem for people. The insurance system in place is essentially commercially based. People's properties are covered on the basis of an assessment of risk carried out on commercial principles.

Anybody would have sympathy with the point made by the Deputy in respect of people who cannot obtain cover. As to whether there would be a basis for going outside those commercial parameters through the State stepping in by way of a solidarity levy or otherwise, it is an interesting and compelling proposal. There has been much debate in the Houses about the property tax. I am not trying to say the two are the same but the question of solidarity, whether it is intergenerational solidarity in the area of health care or solidarity between people who live in different parts of the country and have different risks associated with their properties depending on the climate or where they live, is a good point and an interesting political question we might consider. On the issue of the insurance regime, however, I regret the answer is not very different from the answer given previously. Insurance cover for property is done in the commercial environment and I cannot really add more than what I have already said about the State's role in that regard.

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