Results 4,801-4,820 of 6,295 for speaker:Michael D'Arcy

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Insurance Data (16 May 2018)

Michael D'Arcy: I thank the Deputy for his question. The development of the national claims information database is a complex project as insurers very often record data in different ways and do not necessarily use the same definitions. At the end of 2017 work was completed by a data sub-group of the cost of insurance working group on the development of the legislation which would enable the Central Bank to...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Insurance Data (16 May 2018)

Michael D'Arcy: I have to disagree with the Deputy. The cost of insurance working group has put a lot of effort and energy into dealing with this issue. We are now on the meat-and-two-veg legislative side of things which involves communication between the Department of Finance, the Department of Justice and Equality and the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport. We must also speak to other...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Insurance Data (16 May 2018)

Michael D'Arcy: I thank the Deputy for his support. I know that the reforms are legitimately supported on every side of the House. Let us make no mistake that the biggest issue we face in the insurance sector is the extraordinary level of awards. The report conducted by officials in the Department of Finance on rewards and benchmarking them with those made in the United Kingdom, our nearest neighbour,...

Palestine: Statements (Resumed) (17 May 2018)

Michael D'Arcy: On behalf of the Government, I thank Deputies for their contributions to statements on the tragic and appalling events in Gaza in recent days and weeks. They have passionately articulated the shock and concern of the people at these events. The Government fully shares these sentiments. The Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Coveney, listened carefully to the...

Pay Inequality in the Public Service: Statements (24 May 2018)

Michael D'Arcy: I welcome this opportunity to discuss the issue of new entrant pay scales for public servants. The context for the introduction of such scales by the then Government in 2011 is important. It merits reflection and repeating. In order to address the calamitous fiscal crisis at that time, nine budgetary events involving €30 billion in consolidation measures were announced between 2008...

Pay Inequality in the Public Service: Statements (Resumed) (24 May 2018)

Michael D'Arcy: I want to put the costs on the record of the House. The Public Service Pay and Pensions Act 2017 will cost the Exchequer an extra €1.32 billion. The cost for 2019 is €372 million. It is important that people recognise this is the cost of the pay deal. I listened to the debate with interest and I take issue with the idea coming from some Deputies that the public service,...

Pay Inequality in the Public Service: Statements (Resumed) (24 May 2018)

Michael D'Arcy: -----but that is good. I reiterate that 60,500 hired since 2011 are still serving in new-entrant grades. Included are 16,000 teachers and 5,000 SNAs. I want to touch on some of the matters raised. Deputy Cullinane said it was wrong to do what was done but it was agreed by the unions. People seem to choose to ignore that. At the peak of the crisis, the Deputy's then leader wanted us...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Update on Insurance Matters and Implementation of the Report on the Cost of Motor Insurance: Discussion (29 May 2018)

Michael D'Arcy: I thank the joint Oireachtas committee for this invitation to discuss issues in the insurance sector. We are here to discuss an important and, at times, emotive issue for people and businesses across the country.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Update on Insurance Matters and Implementation of the Report on the Cost of Motor Insurance: Discussion (29 May 2018)

Michael D'Arcy: It could be the Opposition. The Government is aware that the cost of insurance is having a serious impact on some businesses across Ireland and acknowledges that the premiums are very difficult to justify. Many individuals are experiencing premium increases. As indicated in both the Oireachtas committee report on motor insurance and the working group's motor report, there is no legislative...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Update on Insurance Matters and Implementation of the Report on the Cost of Motor Insurance: Discussion (29 May 2018)

Michael D'Arcy: I am at this for 11 months. My predecessor was working on it before me. As I said in my opening statement, it is not about writing reports but the implementation of those reports. Why are premiums not reducing? As awards go up, so do premiums. We have a high-award system in Ireland. I may not be pleased with that and others may not be pleased with that. Anyway, there is a line I use...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Update on Insurance Matters and Implementation of the Report on the Cost of Motor Insurance: Discussion (29 May 2018)

Michael D'Arcy: Several issues arise. There was also the case of the award to the individual who dropped his trailer on himself in mart grounds and the award was made against the mart. There is a reason there is settlement of these claims. The primary reason is that the insurance companies make a calculation and decide it is cheaper to settle rather than go through the court process. This keeps going...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Update on Insurance Matters and Implementation of the Report on the Cost of Motor Insurance: Discussion (29 May 2018)

Michael D'Arcy: I am certainly open to any conversation about any area where we can try to help to improve health and safety. It is not something that I can guarantee will happen, but I am certainly open to any discussion on anything of that nature. Deputy Pearse Doherty referred to the national insurance claims database. I will read the note because it is comprehensive and it is an important aspect of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Update on Insurance Matters and Implementation of the Report on the Cost of Motor Insurance: Discussion (29 May 2018)

Michael D'Arcy: Is the Deputy talking primarily about the settlement channels?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Update on Insurance Matters and Implementation of the Report on the Cost of Motor Insurance: Discussion (29 May 2018)

Michael D'Arcy: We are satisfied to proceed with the head as it is.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Update on Insurance Matters and Implementation of the Report on the Cost of Motor Insurance: Discussion (29 May 2018)

Michael D'Arcy: That side of it is not part of my brief. The motor insurance directive is with the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Update on Insurance Matters and Implementation of the Report on the Cost of Motor Insurance: Discussion (29 May 2018)

Michael D'Arcy: We expect to have the Bill published before the end of this session. It depends on the speed at which it goes through both Houses. I am hopeful it will be sooner rather than later. I cannot give the Deputy a date. I do not know when it will go through. As I said, the work on the establishment of the database is happening in parallel with the legislation. The Central Bank is operational...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Update on Insurance Matters and Implementation of the Report on the Cost of Motor Insurance: Discussion (29 May 2018)

Michael D'Arcy: I am hopeful we can get the legislation through both Houses this year. That is my objective. That is pretty decent. It is a complicated Bill. I hope we can get the legislation through and during 2019 we could get the national claims database up and running. That is realistic. I do not want to give the Deputy a date that is not realistic. It will be at some stage in 2019 but I cannot...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Update on Insurance Matters and Implementation of the Report on the Cost of Motor Insurance: Discussion (29 May 2018)

Michael D'Arcy: Before the end of this session.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Update on Insurance Matters and Implementation of the Report on the Cost of Motor Insurance: Discussion (29 May 2018)

Michael D'Arcy: It is important to get this right. This is new and we want to make sure that what we do we do well. The objective is to make a start with motor insurance and then expand it into employers' liability and personal liability insurance. That is the prudent way to manage this issue. We could do it faster but I am not sure we would do it better if did so.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Update on Insurance Matters and Implementation of the Report on the Cost of Motor Insurance: Discussion (29 May 2018)

Michael D'Arcy: No. It is under the remit of the Department of Justice and Equality but-----