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

Anybody who says there have been huge delays is wrong.

There are delays involving a number of issues. In terms of the motor insurance report, 39 out of 43 recommendations will have been concluded by the end of this year. We will have concluded 26 out of 29 recommendations of the report on the cost of employer and public liability insurance. We are down into the legislative changes. The national claims information database will be implemented and will be published next week. I am open to anybody on the other side of the House providing time to this side of the House to get this through. I am absolutely committed to it. I thank my colleagues who will facilitate the movement of the Insurance (Amendment) Bill very quickly this week so I am open to doing this if I can get support or time.

In respect of section 8 and data retention, we hope to have that done in quarter three in order that the data period will reconcile with the period in which somebody will be obliged to inform an insured person that there is potentially a claim, Consequently, that person can keep that information, data and imagery in order that he or she has the opportunity to defend themselves properly. Section 14 of that Act is very important, as it will give the courts the opportunity to make an inference from people who do not comply with section 8. Consequently, if one shows up four months later and if the data and imagery are gone and one is not able to defend oneself properly, the courts can make an inference. The other aspect of this that is very important is that the legislation, namely, the Civil Liability and Courts Act 2004, is fine. The sanction is fine. The sanction for people who represent an exaggerated or fraudulent claim is a fine of €100,000 or prison or both. We do not need any more than that.

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