Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I want to raise an issue the Minister of State at the Departments of Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy D'Arcy, will know all about in his portfolio, namely, the cost of and unavailability of insurance to businesses, farmers and community and voluntary organisations. It is having a massive impact on our society. There are social farms as Deputy Michael Healy-Rae spoke about, there are community activities and there are farm activities that people have gone into to augment their incomes, and these people have given vital information, entertainment and value to the public. A company in England was insuring all the bouncy castles and it has withdrawn from the market. Rip-off Ireland is alive and well here and the barristers and everyone else are creaming it off. Unfortunately, small employers, of which I am one, cannot afford the claims and costs of insurance. It is worse altogether being told one cannot even get a quote. People will not even be quoted in many areas across society. It permeates in every sector and it is crippling our economy, country and entrepreneurial people who want to provide jobs.

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