Michael D'Arcy (Wexford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It is good to have an opportunity to address the Bill. I have come from the Seanad, which has just passed the Consumer Insurance Contracts Bill. This Bill is another tool in the kit required to deal with insurance fraud. Legislation which has been passed with significant co-operation in both Houses are the Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill, the Central Bank (National Claims Information Database) Act, the Personal Injuries Assessment Board (Amendment) Act, the Judicial Council Act and the Consumer Insurance Contracts Bill. This Bill will be another addition to that canon. That legislation was fast-tracked with the co-operation of both Houses because all Oireachtas Members understand the extent to which insurance issues are damaging business and costing jobs. All Members accept that the Government is doing everything in its power as quickly as it can. The Minister, Deputy Flanagan, touched upon the important areas we have addressed.

It is important for me to put on the record the extent to which we need to send a message through this Bill to people who bring forward fraudulent or exaggerated claims which are doing significant damage. The Judiciary is moving to review the guidelines through the committee designate selected by the Chief Justice, Mr. Justice Frank Clarke. The message on insurance I wish to send from this Chamber is that with this additional tool in our kit there will be an end to the era of easy money and people taking spurious claims to the courts or presenting affidavits which result in a claim pending for two, three or four years and insurance companies being forced to reserve funds with a resultant impact on businesses through an increased premium. That era is coming to an end with the full support of both Houses of the Oireachtas. For that, I thank every Member of the Houses. Without their support, this could not be done. The message has not got through to the slow learners. Deputies may be aware of recent newspaper reports regarding certain members of the legal or medical worlds. Such practices cannot be allowed to continue. I accept that only a very small percentage of those professions facilitate spurious claims. The power of this legislation will be brought to bear on those who perjure themselves in our courts or swear untrue affidavits. It is important that the slow learners get the message that the era of easy money from insurance is over.

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