Results 361-380 of 1,022,263 for in 'Dáil debates' OR in 'Committee meetings' (speaker:Ciarán Cuffe OR speaker:Marc Ó Cathasaigh OR speaker:Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire)
- Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Small and Medium Enterprises (21 May 2024)
Pádraig O'Sullivan: Will the Minister report on the SME credit demand survey 2023 which was published in April, and will he make a statement on it?
- Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Small and Medium Enterprises (21 May 2024)
Michael McGrath: I thank Deputy O'Sullivan for the question. SMEs are the lifeblood of the Irish economy and they account for 99.8% of all businesses in Ireland, along with 69.2% of all employment in the business economy. Recognising the importance of SMEs to Ireland, my Department has regularly carried out SME credit demand surveys since 2011. These surveys are critical tools to understand how the sector...
- Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Small and Medium Enterprises (21 May 2024)
Pádraig O'Sullivan: I thank the Minister. I know the Minister understands the importance of SMEs to the Irish economy. As he rightly outlined in his response, more than 99% of all business in the State, and almost 70% of all employment in the business economy, is provided by SMEs. The SME credit survey is a crucial component in ascertaining how business is performing, how investment is being undertaken and...
- Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Small and Medium Enterprises (21 May 2024)
Michael McGrath: I thank Deputy O'Sullivan. Overall the credit demand survey for 2023 paints a complex picture. It is multifaceted because, of course, SMEs operate in a range of sectors. Overall the results of the survey once again underline the resilience in the face of economic challenges. There is a steady demand for credit. It also highlights evolving investment patterns, one of which Deputy...
- Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Insurance Industry (21 May 2024)
Pádraig O'Sullivan: It is great that existing insurers are willing to take greater risks and broaden the number of products they are offering people. That will be most welcome. I read an article by Charlie Weston yesterday in which it was stated there has been a 35% decrease in the number of claims and the average award is down by 41%. Most of these major reforms were at the request of the industry. I...
- Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Insurance Industry (21 May 2024)
David Stanton: The number of complaints to the Financial Services Ombudsman last year rose considerably. Many of those complaints related to insurance and a number of them related to the delay in making claims and the difficulty in making claims in the first place. Delays in payouts was the big complaint. Will the Minister of State undertake to look at what is available to the consumer? Perhaps a faster...
- Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Insurance Industry (21 May 2024)
Pearse Doherty: I have a simple question. Is the insurance industry taking a hand at the Minister of State and the Government? For the past six years, the Government and Ministers, particularly Ministers in the Minister of State's party, have been telling insurance companies their expectation that they will reduce prices but prices have gone in the other direction for businesses and community groups. Does...
- Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Insurance Industry (21 May 2024)
Neale Richmond: I thank the three Deputies for their interventions. For general premiums, the most drastic example has been the decrease in motor insurance over the past four years. There has been an average decrease of 24% in the cost of premiums in that sector, which is key progress that is extremely welcome. A lot of that is due to the decline in soft tissue injuries. I will be quite frank and have...
- Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Insurance Industry (21 May 2024)
Pearse Doherty: Premiums are not coming down.
- Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Insurance Industry (21 May 2024)
Neale Richmond: We will continue to engage with insurers.
- Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Insurance Industry (21 May 2024)
Pearse Doherty: It is not the pace at which they are coming down; they are not coming down.
- Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Insurance Industry (21 May 2024)
Neale Richmond: I did not interrupt you and I do not know why you keep doing this to Ministers. You asked a question and I am offering a supplementary reply. If that is what you want, we can do it.
- Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Insurance Industry (21 May 2024)
Catherine Connolly: Please speak through the Chair.
- Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Insurance Industry (21 May 2024)
Pearse Doherty: Premiums are not coming down.
- Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Insurance Industry (21 May 2024)
Neale Richmond: With respect to the Leas-Cheann Comhairle, I would like to address all three points that were made. Deputy Stanton asked about the delay in payouts. I fundamentally agree that it is a key issue for individuals and businesses around the country. It is putting businesses out of action and people are waiting for such a serious length of time that they are unable to meet demands. It is...
- Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Insurance Industry (21 May 2024)
Insurance Industry
- Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Insurance Industry (21 May 2024)
Ruairi Ó Murchú: 66. To ask the Minister for Finance the short- to medium-term plans of the Government to ensure reductions in premiums for insurance products, particularly public liability insurance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22690/24]
- Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Insurance Industry (21 May 2024)
Ruairi Ó Murchú: 82. To ask the Minister for Finance the Government's priorities in respect of insurance competition work and reform of the insurance market for the remainder of 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22689/24]
- Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Insurance Industry (21 May 2024)
Ruairi Ó Murchú: I wish to ask the Minister of State about the Government's short- and medium-term plans to ensure there are reductions in premiums for insurance products, particularly public liability insurance. This question follows on from the question that was previously on the floor. We are talking about reductions in settlement costs and the reforms that have happened in respect of duty of care, etc....
- Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Insurance Industry (21 May 2024)
Neale Richmond: I propose to take Questions Nos. 66 and 82 together. I thank the Deputy for his questions. As has been outlined and is quite clear, insurance reform remains a key priority for this Government and is being delivered via the action plan for insurance reform. As the Deputy is aware, neither the Minister for Finance nor the Central Bank of Ireland can direct the pricing or provision of...