Fiona O'Loughlin (Fianna Fail)

Today is a special day. It marks the 80th birthday of a Kildare icon who is known nationally and internationally, namely Christy Moore. He is somebody we are very proud to call a son of Kildare. There is no doubt that his songs have been the soundtrack to so many of our lives and tell us stories with honesty, humour and great heart. I thank Christy on his special day for the music and the passion. I wish him joy and health at this time.

Somebody who formerly worked in this House sent me a TikTok video at the weekend. I was quite shocked when I saw it. The video emanated from a visitor to the Oireachtas who was here as a guest of one of the Members. In it, the Houses of the Oireachtas, the Members' restaurant and the food on offer were slagged off. It was stated that the food was like dog food or worse. It was compared with excrement and vermin and rats were discussed. We have the best staff who support and serve us in Leinster House. What an insult this video is to the catering staff, who try to look after all of us, those who work here and guests. The video was shocking. I have no sanctioned role, but I am going to write to the Ceann Comhairle about this matter. We just discussed decorum at the meeting of the Committee on Parliamentary Privileges and Oversight. If any of us have guests on the premises who do this type of thing, it is completely wrong.

I wish to raise the issue of insurance. A public consultation phase on insurance reform is currently in place. It will remain open until 19 May. When I checked it, only five submissions had been received. It is important to keep both liability and motor insurance premiums low. A recommendation was sent by the Judicial Council to the Minister to the effect that personal injury awards be increased by almost 17%. That would inevitably lead to increased premiums for motorists, businesses, sports clubs and community and voluntary groups across the country. This should be a matter of public policy. It should not be a matter for the Judiciary; it should be a matter for the Legislature. I am very conscious that for those in the leisure industry, where operational costs are already very challenging, this increase, if implemented, would reduce the volume of cases settled at the Injuries Resolution Board and lead to an increase in legal costs. We should have a debate regarding insurance and the proposed increase in awards.