Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Will the Minister of State clarify what he is saying in respect of the personal injuries committee? As of now, we do not have a judicial council. This council is required to set up the personal injuries committee. Is the Minister of State saying that this committee will begin its work informally as soon as next week? Will he please clarify that matter?

The Minister, Deputy Donohoe, needs to personally get more directly involved with regard to the insurance crisis. I received a reply to a parliamentary question recently which showed that, since the Deputy came into office as Minister for Finance, he has only had one meeting with either the insurance industry or any individual company. That meeting was in March 2018 and was held to discuss the issue of US tax reform. The Minister of State, Deputy D'Arcy, has had dozens of meetings with individual companies and with Insurance Ireland. I am not saying that is the only measure of the Minister's involvement on the issue of insurance but he needs to get his hands dirty and to get directly involved. Any attempt to resolve the insurance crisis will require the authority and power of the Minister for Finance. This needs to be a regular issue on the Cabinet agenda. These facts show, however, that the Minister has not directly engaged on the issue of insurance reform.

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