Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank our Whip and his excellent staff for the preparatory work done on this Private Members' motion. I know the Government is extremely interested in this and the Ministers of State would not disagree with the content of our motion. Ultimately, we are seeking fairness for the Irish people. We are seeking fairness for motorists and people who own hotels, pubs and restaurants. These are people who must pay very large insurance premiums that can be crippling. I do not know how many times my insurance premium has increased over the past number of years, and the biggest contentious issue is bogus claims.

There is currently a culture of bogus claims. A number of elements are required. A person is required who is willing to greatly exaggerate injuries that might be sustained. Medical people are required who are willing not to be 100% accurate in the reports they compile. Also required are barristers, solicitors and a group of people that will eventually succeed in ensuring that an insurance company will pay out rather than challenge a claim. I do not blame the insurance companies for the exorbitant rates they charge because the money comes in on one side and they pay out on the other. At the end of the day they are in business and must make a profit. Mother Teresa, God be good to her, is dead and these people cannot take her place. They must make a profit and balance their books. Ultimately, they must shove on the extra cost, to you and everyone in this room and this country.

That is why our premium rates have gone up so much. I am asking our insurance companies to challenge cases. When a person says he or she has whiplash or a soft tissue injury, why in the name of goodness does that have to equate to tens of multiples of thousands of euro. It is ridiculous. In England at present if a person has a severe whiplash injury, that can be proven medically, the money received is a maximum of the equivalent of €25,000. For a proven case of whiplash that is of serious consequence.

At the same time here in Ireland, it is possible to have a whiplash injury that is not proven and there is no basis, only a few consultants' letters backing it up, and get €75,000. For God's sake, there is something wrong. It is not the Ministers' fault and it is not the Government's fault. However, at the same time-----

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