Brendan Daly (Fianna Fail)

I do not wish to delay the passage of the Bill, but I have certain reservations about this section. I am concerned that this will provide an exemption for insurance companies, where the State is involved. It might be better to have a combination of insurers and the State. I bow to the ministerial advice on this, but removing the insurers' responsibility is not the way to proceed. Perhaps we might amend this section at a later stage, but if it is left as it stands, it would provide an open season for insurers to evade, or at least minimise, their responsibilities and liabilities and the onus would be left on the State.