Linda Nelson Murray (Fine Gael)

I thank the Minister of State for everything he highlighted. I really appreciate it.

Since 2020, we have put a great deal of work into everything relating to insurance reform. One of the first things was the establishment of a Cabinet subcommittee. I do not think we had seen anything like that over the previous 15 years, so it was important. I would like the subcommittee to meet regularly and deal with the issues that have been raised here today.

A few of my colleagues raised issues that the Minister of State might come back on afterwards. For example, thatched houses were referred to quite a lot. Occupiers’ liability is another issue in the context of people coming onto land and farmers being worried.

I am grateful colleagues mentioned that they think an increase of 16.7% is excessive. I am glad the Minister of State responded on that and that he said it is not too late. I hope we might reconsider this before it comes across our desks, because none of us is comfortable with it. I would appreciate it if it could be examined.

When I was a councillor, I sat on IPB. The only conference I got to go to was very informative. I could not understand how IPB was able to say that because of the Government’s reforms, it had reduced its premiums to all local authorities by 30%, yet we have not seen that from the private insurance market in the context of public liability, employers’ liability or motor insurance claims. The Minister of State indicated that the number of motor insurance claims is down since 2016. If we look back to 2010 or 2007, however, we can see that they are far higher. It depends on the period one looks at. Over the past two years, motor premiums have increased. I am scared about the report for the latter part of last year. They went up by 9% in the first half, and I would say that they increased even more in the second half. That is scary. Younger drivers are doing very well in relation to incidents, but they are being penalised by having to pay premiums of the order of €4,000. I would like these drivers to be considered also.

I welcome the right to forget for cancer survivors in the context of insurance. A number of colleagues referred to this matter. After everything people go through when it comes to cancer, the last thing they need is having to fight to get insurance. They do not need any more stress.

On the capping of legal fees in the District Court and the Circuit Court, I suggest bringing fees in the Circuit Court to the level that applies in the District Court. That is something we might look at.

Fine Gael has made a good submission. Most of the other parties put in good submissions. I said that the Department received more than 60. In fact, it got 73. This shows the appetite among the different firms and associations. They really want to see it. Earlier, I met the Small Firms Association. It conducted a survey six to 12 months ago in which 45% of its 2,000 members reported an increase in their premiums. That is nearly half. Asked about the top three issues affecting businesses the most, the first was labour costs and the second was insurance.

Even though we have introduced all these great reforms – and I am proud to have played a really small part in bringing that to the attention of many people – we have a long way to go. I know the Minister of State in terms of his work, and I trust that he will do it. He does understand it all. He is a difficult position in relation to the personal injury guidelines. I do not think he wants to see an increase. I hope we do all we can in that regard. Senator Casey also comes from a small business background. He, too, raised the importance of there not being an increase or even that we would negotiate the percentage.

I thank the Minister of State for coming before the House. I really appreciate it. I thank him for accepting the motion. I thank the nine Fine Gael Senators who came here today. It shows how much Fine Gael is invested in insurance reform. I really appreciate that and thank everyone.