Results 11,421-11,440 of 26,486 for speaker:John McGuinness

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Rising Cost of Motor Insurance: Discussion (8 Sep 2016)

John McGuinness: Before the witnesses answer, I must apologise as I have to leave now to attend another meeting.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Rising Cost of Motor Insurance: Discussion (8 Sep 2016)

John McGuinness: The data.

Government Appeal of European Commission Decision on State Aid to Apple: Motion (7 Sep 2016)

John McGuinness: International corporate tax principles dictate that tax is paid where the value is created so this debate is not about fair tax. It is about where tax is paid. It is my opinion that to use a state-aid argument to dictate to a member state its tax policy is simply wrong. It is Commission creep into the sovereign - into our policy of taxation, which is created by those who legislate in this...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Election of Vice Chairman (7 Sep 2016)

John McGuinness: I ask members to turn off their mobile telephones before we commence the business of the meeting. I welcome all members of the committee and in particular the Senators who have been appointed to the committee. The first item of business this morning is the election of a Vice Chairman of the committee. Do members wish to select a Vice Chairman? If so, we will do it now and I will call for...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Rising Cost of Motor Insurance: Minister of State (7 Sep 2016)

John McGuinness: Today we will discuss the rising costs of motor insurance and we are joined by the Minister of State, Deputy Eoghan Murphy and his officials. I ask the Minister of State to make his opening statement.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Rising Cost of Motor Insurance: Minister of State (7 Sep 2016)

John McGuinness: Before calling on members, can the Minister of State outline to the joint committee the make-up of the different groups he has established, as well as the identity of the chair and the individuals who form each group?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Rising Cost of Motor Insurance: Minister of State (7 Sep 2016)

John McGuinness: It is made up of officials who will engage with the-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Rising Cost of Motor Insurance: Minister of State (7 Sep 2016)

John McGuinness: Can I ask the Deputy to conclude?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Rising Cost of Motor Insurance: Minister of State (7 Sep 2016)

John McGuinness: I ask Deputy Lahart to finish up.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Rising Cost of Motor Insurance: Minister of State (7 Sep 2016)

John McGuinness: We are following the agreed format. After the Deputy concludes, the Minister of State will address the questions.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Rising Cost of Motor Insurance: Minister of State (7 Sep 2016)

John McGuinness: I am chairing the meeting and members have decided on this format. When Deputy Doherty finishes, we can proceed.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Rising Cost of Motor Insurance: Minister of State (7 Sep 2016)

John McGuinness: Perhaps the Minister of State will reply to the other questions before that?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Rising Cost of Motor Insurance: Minister of State (7 Sep 2016)

John McGuinness: Deputy Doherty referred to a letter from the Central Bank, which the Minister of State commented on earlier. Can we have a copy of that letter?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Rising Cost of Motor Insurance: Minister of State (7 Sep 2016)

John McGuinness: They are the figures that I have heard.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Rising Cost of Motor Insurance: Minister of State (7 Sep 2016)

John McGuinness: Yes, but I am talking about the payment to a solicitor.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Rising Cost of Motor Insurance: Minister of State (7 Sep 2016)

John McGuinness: If that solicitor is not being paid appropriately at that level when dealing with the claim, is there then not an encouragement for the solicitor to engage with a barrister and go further into the courts? Is that not really what is happening?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Rising Cost of Motor Insurance: Minister of State (7 Sep 2016)

John McGuinness: Yes. I am not drawing a conclusion; I am just taking it as what is known within the industry - that that is what is driving an awful lot of cases from the PIAB to court. When one gets to court, one has not only the solicitor's fees but one also has the barrister's fees and the time taken up in the courts. In addition, one has a greater settlement impacting on the insurance industry because...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Rising Cost of Motor Insurance: Minister of State (7 Sep 2016)

John McGuinness: I know we are in charge of the Injuries Board legislation, but what other levers are we in charge of?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Rising Cost of Motor Insurance: Minister of State (7 Sep 2016)

John McGuinness: I put it to the Minister of State that legal fees comprise the most significant inbuilt cost in most of the claims that are settled in court. One must ask why just 20% of cases are settled through the Injuries Board. It is possible that legislation or regulation is the only lever we have. My strong belief is that the Government should be showing intent in respect of all the vested...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Rising Cost of Motor Insurance: Minister of State (7 Sep 2016)

John McGuinness: In most cases, the person who is making the claim has a legitimate claim. If that person receives an award for the repair or his or her car and for a health issue or injury that might have arisen from the incident, that is what insurance is for. Insurance is not for what is happening now, which is the legal profession getting a massive amount of money. That is what seems to be happening in...