Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I want to raise another aspect of the insurance cost issue. It is crippling businesses but it is also causing festivals and community events to be cancelled. I am told from a variety of locations across the country that Christmas markets and festivals are also cancelled or affected by high insurance costs. It was reported the Government has established a cross-departmental committee to compile a report on the potential impact of insurance on Galway 2020, the European Capital of Culture event. Will the Tánaiste confirm if such a review has taken place, as I cannot find any reference to it in the public media? One possible solution to the issue of looking after festivals and community events is to recharge the Irish Public Bodies Mutual Insurance company, a wholly State-owned entity, to provide insurance cover in respect of these events. The Labour Party is exploring this possibility. In the event that it proves a viable move, will the Government look at amending the relevant Act to allow the company in question to do that?

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