Gareth Scahill (Fine Gael)

I support what my colleague Linda Nelson Murray has said. I also acknowledge the 16.7% increase in the personal injury claims guidelines is excessive. Today I want to spotlight a particular area, however, where the insurance system currently presents an unforeseen hurdle which directly impacts a vital national priority: encouraging our talented diaspora to return home.

Ireland is a nation built on its people and our diaspora is a source of immense pride and potential. We are actively reaching out to our skilled professionals living abroad, particularly those in sectors where we currently face a skills gap. A prime example of this is our health sector. We are acutely aware of the need for experienced and dedicated healthcare professionals. To this end, we have introduced an international recruitment relocation package. This generous initiative aims to significantly lessen the financial burden on returning healthcare workers by covering expenses such as flights, initial accommodation and, crucially, recognising their hard-earned qualifications from abroad. This is testament to our dedication to making their return as smooth and welcoming as possible. However, a significant challenge for them remains.

When these highly skilled individuals, who have often built lives and careers abroad, seek to integrate back into Irish society, they encounter a frustrating disconnect in our insurance landscape. Despite having years of claim-free driving history or comprehensive health insurance policies from reputable providers in their previous countries of residence, these policies are often not recognised by Irish insurers for the purpose of establishing a history or reducing premiums. Think of a doctor or nurse who has spent a decade serving a community in Canada and who has a flawless driving record and continuous health insurance cover. Upon returning to Ireland, they are often treated as if they have no insurance history. They face exorbitant premiums for car insurance and potentially higher initial costs for health insurance. This is not just an inconvenience; it is a financial disincentive. It undermines the very spirit of the relocation package and can often swallow up far in excess of what the relocation package can do. This is an anomaly we need to address. We are asking our diaspora to bring their valuable skills, global experience and their families back to Ireland, yet we are failing to recognise their established insurance histories. It is akin to inviting someone to a race but making them start from the very back regardless of their past performance.

I also acknowledge we need to introduce, and I know this is a focus for the Government, greater competition and choice in our market sector. More players mean more options and more options lead to better prices and services. A healthy competitive insurance sector benefits everyone, from young drivers paying their first premium to family-run shops insuring their businesses. We must also demand full transparency from the system in how insurance premiums are calculated. Senator Nelson Murray mentioned there are differences in cost around the country. My home county of Roscommon has gone down five places from seventh on the list in the past 12 months. I believe this is due to the number of burglaries in which there was an increase of 20% in 2024. Putting that into context, the premium people are paying for insurance in our county has increased due to an increase in crime of about 43 instances. We need transparency on these premiums and how insurance companies are coming to these figures.