Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I compliment former Senator Pádraig Ó Céidigh on drafting this Bill. He is a business person who sees the torment of insurance claims at the moment. We should also mention Mr. Pat McDonagh, who has done a lot of work on insurance claims down through the years. I also compliment the Regional Group for bringing forward this motion.

Do we want to solve this problem? There are many vested interests at the moment. If someone has a tip in his or her car, the insurance company will pay out even if someone was trying to do something fraudulent. We have seen many people on the television over recent months who have gone to the courts and nothing has been done.

I have become aware of an incident over the past week where a young guy, Mr. Justin Harney, has been in hospital in Georgia. He is fully insured. Three days were spent debating and arguing that matter, and even though it was got over, the likes of Laya Healthcare are delaying bringing him home. That is a disgraceful thing to do in genuine cases.

We must nail down the bill of quantum so that certain figures are agreed for settlements, as is the case in England. There is a hell of a difference between the costs of settlement for whiplash in England and Ireland. In saying that, there are people who are genuinely injured and no one is saying that they are not entitled to a settlement, but fraudulent claims are destroying this country.

I have talked to people in the past week whose insurance premiums have gone from €18,000 to €50,000. Businesses cannot afford this. One insurance company with which I deal offered a voucher back to its customers in the amount of €35. What use is that to businesses that are paying thousands of euro for insurance every year?

There are steps we can take, including the bill of quantum, this Bill or whatever else ought to be done. I understand that the Minister of State, Deputy Fleming, is going to become involved in this matter. We must make sure that the levels of settlement are brought back or we will not have jobs in the country for the simple reason that businesses will not be able to employ people.

I have seen time and again incidents where it seems as if an injured party is making the most out of it. I spoke to a reputable doctor two days ago. He told me that he had three or four cases where he examined people. He told the different bodies that the person in question was entitled to no money in his opinion and nobody ever came back to him. He does not know whether the claimant was paid. He does not know what happened. Are the insurance companies interested in following this up? Are they interested in employing personal investigators or whatever they need to do to ensure that claims are checked out to the last? Would they rather just screw the business people of this country and make sure that they keep paying?

Insurance policies for marts have increased, as they have for businesses throughout the country. Premiums cannot be allowed just to rise and rise because businesses will not survive.

I welcome this Bill and the Labour Party amendment. Regardless of politics, we must work together. This is about employment, businesses and the difference between the next generation in this country having work and not having it. Employers are being screwed with insurance premiums. They are throwing their hands up in the air as they look at people with sore backs, necks, whiplash and every single excuse that can be made up. I do not think that is acceptable and we must get tough on it.

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