Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I have been asked to raise this issue by Mr. Stephen Fitzgerald of Aqua Splash. Aqua Splash is based in Dromineer, Nenagh, County Tipperary, and has just reopened after the lockdown. The insurance runs out next month. Not one insurer will renew its insurance; it has tried outside insurance companies that are regulated here in Ireland and they also refused. It has just got over the lockdown and now it is back in business. This is the fifth year running that it has had considerable difficulty with planning and insurance. It is an excellent facility, and my daughter, Mairéad, and my granddaughter, Cara Rose, used it last year.

All of these water sports are going to be closed in the coming months because they cannot get insurance. When is the Government going to do something with the insurance cartels that are going on? They will not pay people for Covid claims and now they will not insure viable, valuable assets. This is a young entrepreneur with a brilliant asset for the community and for surrounding counties, and for young people who want sport and exercise and everything that we should be doing outside, yet it could be closed because of insurance. This is blackmail and blackguarding of the highest order. I want the Minister of State, Deputy Fleming, to meet this man.

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