Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I have just come from the Joint Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach, which has been hearing from small businesses about the serious impact on them of the cost of insurance increases. We heard from Ms Linda Murray from Navan, who operates a soft play centre. She was very brave as she recounted her personal story. She broke down before the committee as she begged us to save the livelihoods of her staff and to give children somewhere to play. She has 25 days before her centre closes because no one in Ireland will insure soft play areas and the only company in Britain that does so has refused. A different company in Navan closed down just six weeks ago and another in Cork will close by the end of the month. Every soft play area across the country will face a similar fate.

The Government has dithered and dallied on this issue. All the while, the clock is ticking for the future of these centres and their staff. Will the Tánaiste ask the Minister for Finance to convene an emergency meeting with the insurance industry so as to ensure appropriate insurance cover is given to these vital services?

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