Results 761-780 of 34,618 for speaker:Seán Fleming

Committee on Public Petitions: Consideration of Public Petition on Reform of Insurance for Thatched Heritage Buildings: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Nov 2022)

Seán Fleming: The action plan on insurance reform is a whole-of-government approach, led by the Tánaiste, and involves a number of Government Departments. We have been talking specifically about a report by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage that is coming out in the near future, which will help us on the insurance side. In recent weeks, we published the third implementation...

Committee on Public Petitions: Consideration of Public Petition on Reform of Insurance for Thatched Heritage Buildings: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Nov 2022)

Seán Fleming: I will answer that in this way. We have all seen reports in the media in recent years about fraudulent cases. Up to now, there has been little or no successful prosecution in cases of fraud in insurance because it was not a criminal offence. The Government brought in legislation to make perjury a criminal offence for the first time ever. It is only very recently that the Garda have the...

Committee on Public Petitions: Consideration of Public Petition on Reform of Insurance for Thatched Heritage Buildings: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Nov 2022)

Seán Fleming: My understanding on the ombudsman situation is that it is a regulated business and a complaint can go to the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman, FSPO, from any consumer. The FSPO handles all financial services. It is a separate issue, but 28,000 people are employed in the insurance sector in Ireland, so it is quite a big industry. There are still some gaps and pinch points with...

Committee on Public Petitions: Consideration of Public Petition on Reform of Insurance for Thatched Heritage Buildings: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Nov 2022)

Seán Fleming: I am very pleased. The Deputy is the first person to say that to me. I encourage her to say it out loud again outside of today's meeting. The Central Bank concentrated on house and home insurance because bigger figures are involved. I see exactly where the Deputy is going on this. While I cannot tell the Central Bank what to do, it is no harm that this is now said about insurance in...

Committee on Public Petitions: Consideration of Public Petition on Reform of Insurance for Thatched Heritage Buildings: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Nov 2022)

Seán Fleming: Nobody knows the answer to that question. I am honest enough to say that. We understand that approximately 800 houses have insurance recurring on a year-to-year basis. The issue is about those which do not have insurance or where a property changes hands and the new owner cannot get insurance. The owner will get a renewal if there is no change in ownership but the issue, as we speak, is...

Committee on Public Petitions: Consideration of Public Petition on Reform of Insurance for Thatched Heritage Buildings: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Nov 2022)

Seán Fleming: No. I know there is a scheme in the UK. Since it is a bigger market of more than 50 million people, it has a bigger reinsurance market. When a company issues an insurance policy, it sells on the risk to another company that reinsures it. As Ireland is such a small market, it does not have the same reinsurance market as that in the UK that would allow the risk to be spread across other...

Committee on Public Petitions: Consideration of Public Petition on Reform of Insurance for Thatched Heritage Buildings: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Nov 2022)

Seán Fleming: We have had this in the childcare sector. The fee is not significant. There is a set of guidelines to reduce fire risk in the childcare sector. What happens in the group schemes that have worked in other areas is that, through an association or group, there is an inspection of each property to ensure it has the measures in place. Such an inspection may take place once a year, and it is...

Committee on Public Petitions: Consideration of Public Petition on Reform of Insurance for Thatched Heritage Buildings: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Nov 2022)

Seán Fleming: The only commitment I can give is that when we see that report, our offices will speak directly to Insurance Ireland, which is the representative body for all the insurance companies. That is an absolute commitment. As soon as we have the report, we will speak to Insurance Ireland, which represents practically all the insurance companies operating in the State. That will be our immediate...

Committee on Public Petitions: Consideration of Public Petition on Reform of Insurance for Thatched Heritage Buildings: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Nov 2022)

Seán Fleming: We have covered all the topics. I thank the committee for the invitation to appear. This is my first time before the committee. I did not know much about it previously. I am pleased to see it in action. Deputy Higgins referred to the cross-departmental nature of the committee. That is good for the Oireachtas. Most committees are line Department committees that have one area of focus,...

Committee on Public Petitions: Consideration of Public Petition on Reform of Insurance for Thatched Heritage Buildings: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Nov 2022)

Seán Fleming: I thank the Deputy for raising the question. I will give him a straight answer. The only form of insurance where there is a legal requirement to have insurance in Ireland is motor insurance. There is no legal requirement for anyone to insure a house, business or anything else, but there is a legal requirement in respect of motor insurance. As it is a legal requirement for the industry...

Committee on Public Petitions: Consideration of Public Petition on Reform of Insurance for Thatched Heritage Buildings: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Nov 2022)

Seán Fleming: I acknowledge the role of the Thatch Property Insurance Action Group, which is very important. In regard to the insurance industry, different sectors have come to us, whether the equine centres, the play centres, the bouncy castle centres or the leisure and amenities sector, all of which had difficulties getting insurance individually. However, when they came together and put a group scheme...

Committee on Public Petitions: Consideration of Public Petition on Reform of Insurance for Thatched Heritage Buildings: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Nov 2022)

Seán Fleming: The biggest element of that is the personal accident injury guidelines, where people who have a slip, trip or fall hurt their back or neck. Up to now, awards were given under the old regime before the new Government came in and the new guidelines were set by the Judiciary, at the Government's request. The Government did not write the new reduced award levels, and neither did the industry or...

Committee on Public Petitions: Consideration of Public Petition on Reform of Insurance for Thatched Heritage Buildings: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Nov 2022)

Seán Fleming: I will make two points on that. First, the CSO produces regular information, some on a monthly and some on a quarterly basis. It will be self-evident, independently of the Government. Second, the Central Bank produces information on claims in a number of sectors in a claims database. It has been doing so once a year. We have requested that from the start of next year, it produces some of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (22 Nov 2022)

Seán Fleming: 270. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if the freehold title to properties arising from the guidance issued by his Department to local authorities in April 2009 on the use of unsold affordable houses still rests with the local authority notwithstanding that these social houses are leased by an approved housing body or private management company; and if the...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (9 Nov 2022)

Seán Fleming: What about Clonakilty?

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Tax Reliefs (8 Nov 2022)

Seán Fleming: Section 481 of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997, also known as the film tax relief, is intended to act as a stimulus to the creation of an indigenous film industry in the State creating quality employment opportunities and supporting expressions of culture. I thank the Senator for his opening remarks. He has shown a depth and knowledge of the industry that very few Members have and he has...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Tax Reliefs (8 Nov 2022)

Seán Fleming: I acknowledge what Senator Malcolm Byrne said. The fact the Department is, in the context of the Finance Bill, extending the main relief available under the scheme for all counties for another four years is an indication that it fully supports the general scheme. It is a nationwide scheme. On assisting particular regions, the Senator will be aware the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (8 Nov 2022)

Seán Fleming: 830. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a person (details supplied) will receive the benefit of the reduction in the fees payment recently announced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55572/22]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Legislative Measures (27 Oct 2022)

Seán Fleming: 293. To ask the Minister for Health if he has identified a timeline for updating the Dental Act 1985, as committed to in the national oral health policy in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53995/22]

Central Bank (Individual Accountability Framework) Bill 2022: Referral to Select Committee (19 Oct 2022)

Seán Fleming: I move: That the Bill be referred to the Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach pursuant to Standing Orders 95 and 181.