Steven Matthews (Wicklow, Green Party)
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180.To ask the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 171 of 28 May 2024, if his attention has been drawn to a case (details supplied) which appears to contradict the assertion that there is no market capacity issue; the actions he will take to address this concern; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24935/24]

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Officials from my Department have consulted with the insurance sector on the matter raised by the Deputy, including with Insurance Ireland. It has confirmed that, in its view, there is no widespread market capacity issue in the provision of insurance for children’s summer camps, and that some of the largest insurance companies in the State offer cover for a range of activities. It did note that if the insured party plans to run summer camps that fall outside their core activity for which the main policy has been provided, then insurer may follow a range of options, from charging an extra premium, attaching certain stipulations to policies or refusing to provide cover. In these scenarios, it is best for the insured to engage with their insurance provider or broker in order to ascertain how best to address the question. In this context, it is important to note that neither I nor the Central Bank of Ireland can intervene in the provision or pricing of insurance products. This position is reinforced by the EU framework for insurance (the Solvency II Directive). Consequently, Government is not in a position to direct insurance companies regarding the cost of policies or what terms and conditions they apply.