Linda Nelson Murray (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I congratulate the Cathaoirleach and wish him an energetic and peaceful term. I also congratulate my colleague, Senator Kyne, who I know will be fair and wise. I am honoured to be elected to the Twenty-seventh Seanad. My colleague, Senator Ahearn, told me yesterday to take it all in and I am certainly doing that. I take my seat here as the greatest privilege.

I thank my party, Fine Gael, my husband, Finbarr, and my daughters, Elle-J and Savannah, my friends who have supported me, my mam and dad, looking down from heaven, and all who have helped me over the last two years to get here. I am following in the great footsteps of many who treasured this position. I can assure the people of Meath West of my full commitment to this role and I look forward to the next few years of working with everyone. I thank Retail Excellence Ireland for nominating me. I will be the voice for business, jobs and communities, as well as all the other issues that I am passionate about.

I ask the Leader to request that the Minister for Justice be invited here to discuss the personal injury guidelines. These came into effect in March 2021 and we are already looking at increasing them by up to 17%, less than four years later. We have not even seen the impact they have already had. I speak from experience of nearly losing my own business over insurance. I speak for the likes of play centres, pet farms and any business that has anything to do with fun, play and risk. This is a significant concern. I worry about the impact this increase would have on the Personal Injuries Resolution Board, PIRB, if general damages are to be reviewed and potentially increased every three years. Will this leave us in a position where people are going to hang on? It has taken the injuries board two and a half years to get to a resolution, so are people wait the extra six months to try to get it increased? We cannot let this happen. I am beginning to fear for businesses such as play centres where our children can play. Businesses have had to take on so many increased costs over recent years. A few years ago, insurance was the main issue. Now, everything is an issue when it comes to the increased costs of doing business. We do not need to add this 17% on to businesses. Allow them to be in business. Allow employees to stay in business. I ask the Leader to ask the Minister for Justice to come here to discuss how we can protect our small businesses.