Michelle Mulherin (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The spiralling cost of public liability insurance is unsustainable for businesses across the board. The cost of insurance has been raised on previous occasions in the House. It is unsustainable. Premia have quadrupled in the past ten years. In fact, I was talking about this to a person who operates a pub and eatery. Their insurance has increased from €6,000 to €57,000 in that period. There is a claim pending. However, across the board premia are increasing and it really cannot continue on that course. Something must be done. The Minister for Finance must take action on it. Businesses, in many cases sole traders, in addition to paying commercial rates and people's salaries, are taking a hit from this. They are sitting ducks.

Resolving this issue will require an examination of the operation of the Injuries Board. It would appear that it is making it too easy for people to claim. In fact, the only person who ends up paying is the insurance policy holder, who is asked to pay €600. The person making the claim has little to pay and does not have to make an initial payment at all. The raison d'êtreof the Injuries Board was to reduce legal costs and the cost of claims, but it does not appear to be operating to that effect. Something must be done.

There is also the issue of the Health and Safety Authority, what checks it is making and how people can be assisted in recognising risks whereby somebody coming into the premises might get injured or sustain a loss. I do not believe this can be left to the industry. It requires action on the part of the State as it is affecting everybody, both people who have claims against them and those who do not. Action is required or the monster will continue to grow and we will see businesses shut down.