Michael D'Arcy (Wexford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I did that earlier. I telephoned two of the marts in the area closest to me. The cost for one of the largest marts in the country is approximately €12,500 and its owner said its premium had not increased. I anticipated the question would be about why premiums had increased. The owner said its premium had not increased because he had not had a claim for 12 years. That is the primary issue I see. When I pushed him about his knowledge of other marts, he said from what he has been told, the cost to insure a moderate-sized mart is between €20,000 to €25,000. I take on board the Deputy's assertion that there is probably a bigger issue where premiums for smaller marts, which operate on a smaller number of days and which have a smaller turnover, go from €8,000 to €15,000, thus experiencing a really significant jump. It is concerning in the extreme if they have done the work required to insure there are no claims or where they have done the work if there were issues to be resolved. I have a real problem with that.

If the Deputy supplies me with the details, I will pursue the matter. I will also take it to the next phase of insurance analysis. The marts are crucial and are an essential part of rural Ireland in terms of trade. It is not just the marts because there are shops and other services attached to them. I am from rural Ireland and an agricultural background and do not want to see any further slippage in this sector.

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