Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising the issue of insurance costs for business in the Chamber again. I share his concerns about it, as Minister responsible for employment and enterprise. I assure the House that insurance reform is a priority for the Government. We established a Cabinet committee sub-group on insurance reform, which I chair. It met yesterday and is overseeing the implementation of the action plan for insurance. That is all about bringing down costs for consumers and businesses, introducing more competition to the market, preventing fraud and reducing the burden and cost on businesses and community and voluntary organisations. We will publish our six-monthly update report in the next week.

Significant progress has been made since we started implementing the action plan, for example, the introduction of new personal injury guidelines. The latest data from the Personal Injuries Assessment Board, PIAB, indicate that payouts on claims made through that board have gone down 50% since the guidelines were introduced. We expect to see that reflected in the courts and in lower premiums, though not 50% lower, as the guidelines begin to take effect.

We have established an office to promote competition in the insurance market chaired by the Minister of State, Deputy Fleming. It talks to insurance companies and underwriters and asks them to look again at Ireland and to enter our insurance market. The Deputy will be aware that one large underwriter, Berkshire Hathaway, has expressed an interest in coming back into Ireland in relation to professional indemnity insurance, which is an important issue.

The Criminal Justice (Perjury and Related Offences) Bill has now been enacted and will help us to crack down on insurance fraud and exaggerated claims. That Act will be commenced in the next few weeks by the Minister. The Minister of State, Deputy Troy, is developing proposals to reform the Personal Injuries Assessment Board in order that more claims are settled there, thereby significantly reducing legal costs.

It may be particularly relevant to what the Deputy mentioned that the Department of Justice has recently completed its review of the Occupiers' Liability Act, including the issue of the duty of care and notices and waivers. That is there to increase protections for consumers, businesses, sporting clubs and community groups. The Minister of State is working on formal proposals that can be brought to Government for legislative change to rebalance the expectations in businesses versus those who use those businesses as to who gets injured and why.

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