Vol. 451 No. 8
52 Dr. O'Hanlon asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the cost to the Exchequer and State agencies of public liability insurance premia and claims paid from the Exchequer for the last year for which figures are available; the plans, if any he has to reduce this cost; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7391/95]
The general position is that the State carries its own insurance in respect of State owned and rented premises; this is the situation applying in the Office of the Tánaiste and the offices of the Department of Foreign Affairs at home and its Missions abroad. The only exception arises where a Mission abroad is obliged, either under local law or the terms of a lease agreement, to insure against specified risks. Accordingly, a small number of our Missions have been obliged to take out insurance policies which, in certain instances, include cover for public liability.
In the case of State Agencies under my control the Agency for Personnel Services Overseas and the Refugee Agency have taken out insurance policies which include cover for public liability.
As all the insurance policies referred to above cover a range of risks it is not possible to specify the precise cost to the Exchequer of public liability insurance in each case. Costs of policies are kept under close review to ensure that they remain competitive.
