Rónán Mullen (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Tréaslaím leis an Seanadóir Keith Swanick as an méid a dúirt se maidir le cúrsaí árachais agus an cás a tharla i gContae Liatroma inar d'fhulaing fear a chabraigh le duine eile. There is a real issue regarding the good Samaritan case that arose in County Leitrim. I commend Senator Swanick on raising it. I had planned to intervene in it myself. There is a concept in contract law whereby contracts can be void, voidable or unenforceable where they are contrary to public policy. A significant public policy issue arises where an insurance company would impose a loading on an insured party arising out of circumstances where that party had not been at fault and, more importantly, was acting in the public interest. It should not stand that the man in this case, Mr. Egan, should face not just a write-off in respect of his car but also a future loading on his policy. We need to hear from the Government on that issue. I suggest that there may be a need for legislation, or some amendment to existing legislation, that would ensure that an insurance company could not impose a penalty or a disadvantage where the circumstances of a claim involve no fault on the part of the insured and where they arise our of actions reasonably taken to protect public health and safety. There is a real issue here whereby insurance companies must be mindful of the public good. We spoke last night about the concept of the law needing to promote the common good. It seems that this is a classic case involving the common good. We need to hear from the Government on how it proposes to dialogue with the insurance industry in respect of cases of this nature and on whether legislation is necessary and possible.

I would also like to hear from the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade regarding Ireland's diplomatic efforts to address the suffering of civilians as a result of the conflict in Yemen. The United Nations has appealed for immediate international support to help with the worsening humanitarian crisis there. Yemen is one of the Arab world's poorest countries. Children, men and women are starving and some 12 million people need food, water and medicine to save and sustain their lives. The UN has warned that famine is now a real possibility this year. Ireland has pledged another €2 million to Yemen. That brings our total humanitarian funding to over €4 million. I will be very brief, but I think it is important. Whereas the injection of a State donation is to be welcomed, it is also important that we consider the role of the United States and Britain in this conflict. Given the contacts that our Government will have with the US Government in the coming weeks, it is important that we raise the question of what has happened in Yemen with President Trump in the White House. One might consider a recent report in The Guardian about how weapons exports from Britain to the Royal Saudi Air Force continued even after an airstrike on a funeral hall led to 140 people being killed. Irish taxpayers-----