Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The insurance issue will not be resolved by PIAB alone. We have embarked on a cross-government approach that has been led by the Minister and we have made some good inroads in this area. For example, an office to promote competition has been established, because we need competition in the market for venues such as the one the Deputy alluded to in his constituency. The scope of the national claims information database has been widened so that we have the key information on employer and public liability and a fraud unit has also been established in An Garda Síochána. Most importantly, the personal injury guidelines have commenced and we have seen a significant reduction in compensation payouts because of that. Thankfully, premiums are falling. The data to date has shown that motor insurance premiums have fallen almost 20% in the past two years but we want to see premiums fall further and we want to see them fall in public liability. The best way we can do that is to keep our claims down. The establishment and widened remit of PIAB will help to ensure that happens.

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