Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Government is well aware of the pressure that is being placed on small companies in particular due to the increase in insurance premiums. I hope the Deputy is well aware that no Government can force a company which is providing a financial service to change its premiums. We had a debate about this issue earlier today during questions to me and a number of Deputies called for more insurance companies to come into Ireland to provide more competition. The Government can look at changes that we can make. We do our part and we have to ensure that the insurance companies do their part too. That is what we are doing. The key issue about which there have been calls to address for so long is the level of awards being issued in our courts. The Minister of State, Deputy D'Arcy, has made great progress with the co-operation of the Minister, Deputy Flanagan, on the Judicial Council Bill to create an environment in which guidelines can be issued about awards.

With the co-operation of the Oireachtas, we hope that legislation can be passed before the summer recess.

See this speech in context