Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank Teachta Pearse Doherty for all of the work he has done, not just on this important legislation, but on the area of insurance.

He has been rightly recognised here this evening by those who care to pay attention to exactly what is happening.

I listened with interest to the Minister of State. I often think how when Ministers come in and read scripts, it can really sound like they are reading them for the first time. I wonder to whether they believe all the stuff that is in the text. The Minister of State indicated that a single item of legislation will not hold the industry to account. Of course it will not, but doing nothing will definitely not lead to the industry being held to account. I was fascinated to hear the multi-pronged approach that the Minister of State just outlined because it does not seem to be having an impact. Instead of reading from scripts, what Teachta Doherty and we have done is talk to people. Some 58% of the people who responded to the survey said that their premiums have gone up. When people say the proof of the pudding is in the eating, the eating of the pudding shows that the premiums are going up. It is not good enough to say we should wait or add another prong to the multi-pronged approach or we should try to put another name on it - what people need and want is action.

I am talking about people in my constituency who work in tourism-dependent industries and experience-type industries and who cannot afford to insure their businesses. I am talking about young people who, because of poor transport infrastructure, have absolutely no choice but to have a car to be able to get on the road. Those people do not want to wait and they should not have to wait nine months for another prong to be added or for there to be more deliberations or whatever it is that the Minister of State is doing because it is not working. People want concrete action that will achieve results. I talk to businesses and they are wary and fearful about reopening. The last thing they need to see is their insurance premiums going up. I urge the Government to think about the people who are affected, withdraw the nonsensical amendment, work with Teachta Doherty who has the support of people in the House and the credibility and track record and start to deliver for people who need to see their premiums come down.

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