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

To clarify, I did not say that the Deputy is always wrong but, rather, that he is almost always wrong. I welcome the fact that he has committed to supporting the Bill. He is a member of the Business Committee, along with the Chief Whip, and I welcome the fact that he has committed to getting the Judicial Council Bill through as quickly as possible.

The insurance companies are no white knights and their settlement channels are wrong. Some insurance companies pay out "go away" money rather than settlement money. As the Deputy stated - he is sometimes right - other insurance companies wrongly drag people through the courts, which is not fair either. The settlement channels have to be reviewed.

I believe the brother-sister test should be applied. If an incident happens in a venue that is a business premises and potentially has insurance, it does not automatically mean that people should make a claim. A claim should not be made where the person would not claim in circumstances where a similar incident took place in his or her brother's or sister's house. The high level of awards here and the easy money to be made in some instances have given rise to an attitude where people will try to get what they can out of it. That is wrong. It is a compensation culture that must be broken down because it is not a victimless cost. The cost is not to the insurance company but to the person paying the premium to the insurance company because it will be passed on. Last year, three Bills were instigated. The Judicial Council Bill, which I hope the Deputy will continue to support in this House, was one. The Civil Liability and Courts (Amendment) Bill 2019, sponsored by Deputy Michael McGrath, was another, and I would be delighted if that Bill was passed. The third is the Consumer Insurance Contracts Bill 2017 sponsored by Deputy Pearse Doherty. I intend to amend that Bill, which I also hope to get through the Houses. With the support of this House, we can do a great deal in the area of insurance to protect businesses.

When business is protected in this manner, jobs are protected. Every Member will agree with me on that.

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