Feargal Quinn (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I understand the accounting problems being experienced by RSA are not as a consequence of fraud or anything like it but stem from a misjudgment of the number of injury claims. It is only ten years or so since the legislation establishing the injuries board was passed in this House; it was meant to solve the problem of the large increase in the number of injury claims. In this case, however, the RSA has had to put in €100 million to cover the cost of the growing number of claims.

I do not know how this has come about but we should have a discussion on insurance claims. There was a 13% increase in motor insurance. While RSA says it has no intention of increasing its rates, if it has one third of business in Ireland it is highly unlikely we will be able to avoid an increase in insurance premiums. We should have an open debate about this on the grounds that it represents a huge cost to the nation. It will affect our economy and jobs. Some ten years have passed since the legislation was passed and perhaps it needs another look.