Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. It is a matter of acute concern for every one of us. There is huge pressure at play, particularly in the context of employer liability and public liability insurance. There have been improvements on the motor insurance side, with premiums down by over 20% in the past 12 months. However, that is not having an impact in this critical areas. The Deputy is correct in stating that we need a quid pro quoin respect of the string of reforms that we are introducing. We introduced reforms in respect of the Personal Injuries Assessment Board, PIAB, and streamlined the process relating to it. We also introduced reforms aimed at securing greater sharing of data. We have introduced an economic crime bureau within the Garda and this is providing briefings to officers in all divisions on how to recognise and address fraudulent claims. We have improved the system for reporting fraudulent claims by the insurance companies. There is a string of changes and, as the Deputy rightly said, the Minister will be presenting those changes to the House as soon as the relevant Bill completes its progress through the Seanad. Said changes have been approved by Government. They will be with in the Seanad before being to the Dáil.

I echo the Deputy's view that we need to see a quid pro quofrom the insurance sector. We cannot have the future of businesses undermined in this way and we need the progress that we are seeing on the motor insurance side being repeated in the other areas. In 2018, a set of recommendations were agreed and virtually all have been implemented. We have yet to see evidence of their impact on the public liability and employers' liability. The insurance companies have a responsibility to ensure that they match the efforts being made by this House, the Garda, the PIAB and many others, including the Judiciary, which will now guidelines as to how excessive claims should be addressed. The system is responding but we need to see an outcome for people.

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