Results 10,141-10,160 of 10,460 for speaker:Gerry Horkan

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Rising Costs of Motor Insurance: Discussion (Resumed) (6 Oct 2016)

Gerry Horkan: -----but we do not have visibility on a big chunk of that market. We do not have any visibility on the trend in claims or the 70% of claims that are being settled either pre or post Injuries Board. Does the Central Bank have any visibility on those figures?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Rising Costs of Motor Insurance: Discussion (Resumed) (6 Oct 2016)

Gerry Horkan: What about the trend in the 70% of claims? We were told by the Injuries Board that its claims have been fairly static over a number of years. Court claims have been relatively static over a number of years. Premiums are going up by 70% in line with alleged requirements. We are trying to work out what has changed. Whiplash settlements are higher here than anywhere else and legal fees are...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Rising Costs of Motor Insurance: Discussion (Resumed) (6 Oct 2016)

Gerry Horkan: That is possibly some of the most interesting and concise information we have had in the past six days that the committee met. It brings into focus that they are the reasons or a chunk of the reason-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Rising Costs of Motor Insurance: Discussion (Resumed) (6 Oct 2016)

Gerry Horkan: They are part of the reason. Some of the reasons are the historic cost being allegedly too low or companies going out of business for whatever reason - bad practices, not insuring the right risk, not managing their business properly, charging too little and paying out too much relative to what they were charging. The Central Bank has put in place these new changes and it is effectively, as...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Rising Costs of Motor Insurance: Discussion (Resumed) (6 Oct 2016)

Gerry Horkan: I do not mean it in an overly loaded way. The Central Bank is saying that in order for the industry to be sustainable, it must take into account more expensive claims, greater volume of claims, greater traffic on the road, whatever it is, and in order for the industry to have enough reserves, it has to charge more.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Rising Costs of Motor Insurance: Discussion (Resumed) (6 Oct 2016)

Gerry Horkan: We were told 92% of premium payers were not making claims, while 8% to 10% were making claims. We are not saying people who should not be entitled to get a claim should get a claim. Is there any hope for the 92% of people who pay in more and more while their car is getting older, they are getting older and they are probably getting better at driving over time? Is there any hope there will...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Rising Costs of Motor Insurance: Discussion (Resumed) (6 Oct 2016)

Gerry Horkan: Are we entitled to find out the particular banks about which Dr. Roux has concerns?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Rising Costs of Motor Insurance: Discussion (Resumed) (6 Oct 2016)

Gerry Horkan: I thought Dr. Roux might say that. As a committee, we would be quite interested in talking to those banks. If we do not know which ones are involved, however, we will not be in a position to talk to them.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Rising Costs of Motor Insurance: Discussion (Resumed) (6 Oct 2016)

Gerry Horkan: It will have to be a short answer.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Rising Costs of Motor Insurance: Discussion (Resumed) (6 Oct 2016)

Gerry Horkan: I am conscious that the committee did not ask Dr. Roux about these points. Is Dr. Roux concerned that because it is a percentage of a total amount and if that is relaxed to 10% the house price will go up in an inverse relationship to the extent that, instead of a person having to find 20% of €400,000, he or she has to find 10% of €800,000 or €80,000 either way? There...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Rising Costs of Motor Insurance: Discussion (Resumed) (6 Oct 2016)

Gerry Horkan: I thank the witnesses for participating in the meeting and all our committee members who participated in it as well, and for the material the witnesses supplied in advance of the meeting. That concludes public hearings on the rising cost of motor insurance. The secretariat will produce a report with recommendations for committee consideration. The committee is adjourned until 10 a.m....

Seanad: Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement: Motion (5 Oct 2016)

Gerry Horkan: I apologise for my voice today, which is not good. I welcome the opportunity to discuss the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, known as CETA, between the European Union and Canada.Fianna Fáil will not be supporting this motion as we believe an ambitious and comprehensive trade agreement will benefit Ireland in terms of increased jobs and business opportunities for Ireland....

Seanad: European Commission Decision on State Aid to Apple: Statements (4 Oct 2016)

Gerry Horkan: I thank the Minister for his contribution and welcome him once again to the House. I welcome the opportunity to speak today on the European Commission’s decision that Ireland provided unlawful state aid to Apple. Fianna Fáil supports the decision to appeal the decision. Providing a competitive, consistent and certain tax policy is a key feature of Ireland’s...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Business of Committee (29 Sep 2016)

Gerry Horkan: Apologies have been received from Deputy Michael McGrath for whom Deputy Anne Rabbitte will substitute. I remind members to ensure their mobile telephones are switched off. This is important as interference is causing serious problems for broadcasting, editorial and sound staff. I propose that we go into private session to briefly discuss some housekeeping matters. Is that agreed? Agreed.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (29 Sep 2016)

Gerry Horkan: I thank the Minister of State and will welcome him. I have a couple of points to make. I apologise that my voice is a little croaky today.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (29 Sep 2016)

Gerry Horkan: That is flattery, I am sure. The Minister of State's brief is wider than flood relief. There are 70 sites where guided visitor services are provided, some of which may not be accessed by people with disabilities, including people in wheelchairs and so on. Is there any indication as to how many are not accessible and is there a programme to try to make more of them accessible? ...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (29 Sep 2016)

Gerry Horkan: According to the information we have received, a sum of €178,000 was allocated to 30 June. The figure was €16 million last year. This year's figure seems to be very small.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (29 Sep 2016)

Gerry Horkan: How high is the approved draw-down figure?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (29 Sep 2016)

Gerry Horkan: I am just taking the figures from the chart. The total figure is in or around €3 million for the year. It was almost €17 million last year and €9 million the year before. Is there a particular reason it is less than 20% of what it was last year?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (29 Sep 2016)

Gerry Horkan: And the year before.