Seanad debates

Tuesday, 27 May 2003

Sustaining Progress: Statements.

 

I want to mention the cost of insurance, although this is by no means the first time I have mentioned it. The Irish Life annual report for 2002 came into my home because one of my children has a small number of shares in the company. Irish Life's profit increased from €46 million in 2001 to €290 million in 2002, a 600% increase. We are all aware from our personal experience of outrageous increases in the cost of insurance. Will the barn in the farmyard fall down because of the events of 11 September 2001? Hardly, but people have been faced with demands amounting to a several hundred per cent increase. This is an example of the huge profits being made, certainly by one company, on the back of that event. If that is not the case, and I do not pretend to be an expert on the insurance industry, I would like a detailed explanation for this huge increase because there is no doubt that it is having a crippling effect on the economy.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.