Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It is early in the day but I will pass on Deputy Calleary's good wishes to the Minister for Health. That is appreciated. On the serious issue of insurance, I emphasise that we in government are very aware of the financial strain that the cost of insurance is placing some consumers and many businesses. Indeed the problem of rising premiums in respect of motor insurance in particular was the main impetus for the establishment of the cost of insurance working group chaired by the Minister for Finance. The working group is continuing to implement the 33 recommendations from the 2017 report on the cost of motor insurance and the 15 recommendations from the 2018 report on the cost of employer and public liability insurance, to which Deputy Calleary did not refer but which certainly exists. Both of these primary reports contain action plans that set out agreed timelines for implementation as well as a commitment that the working group will prepare regular updates on its progress. The seventh such update was published last November and shows that of the total number of 78 separate relevant deadlines within the action plans of the two reports set up to the end of quarter three of 2018, 63 relate to actions that have been completed.

There is more work to do but it is not true to say that nothing is happening in this area. It is envisaged that the next quarterly progress update will be completed by the end of this month and will concentrate on outlining the definitive position relating to all the 33 recommendations from the cost of motor insurance report as the last deadlines in its action plan passed at the end of 2018. In respect of employment and public liability insurance, the vast majority of the 26 action points, which were due for completion during 2018, have been accomplished. I remain confident that any outstanding action points will be completed in the coming months along with the three remaining action points with deadlines set for various quarters throughout 2019.

I am familiar with the pressure outlined by Deputy Calleary regarding many individual businesses, be they marts or other businesses. The Government will continue to monitor how we, through change policy and changes of approach, can continue to ensure that we have a competitive insurance offer in Ireland for small businesses in particular. We have an action plan that is being implemented and we will continue to update that.

See this speech in context