Fiona O'Loughlin (Kildare South, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I accept that the Minister has identified issues, particularly around the level of awards which are 4.5 times what they are in our nearest neighbours, particularly around soft tissue issues. They are unjustified but it is one thing to identify issues, while it is another to take action on them. The Minister said the Judiciary recognises the problems but again, while recognition is good, it is another thing to take the necessary action to protect our businesses and our community and sporting clubs. The Minister mentioned the Law Reform Commission report is due to be published next year but the insurance issue did not just appear overnight and it has steadily been getting worse over many years. Fine Gael has been in Government for almost nine years so I would have hoped and thought a lot more would have been done to protect businesses, such as the ones I represent in south Kildare and parts of Laois, as well as community and sporting groups.

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