Vol. 518 No. 5
80 Mr. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if any measurement has taken place of public liability insurance costs here as compared with the rest of Europe and the US; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12199/00]
86 Mr. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she has made any further comparisons with other jurisdictions in respect of motor and public liability insurance cover; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12205/00]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 80 and 86 together.
Deloitte & Touche, management consultants, were commissioned in 1996 to undertake a study on the economic evaluation of insurance costs in Ireland. Comparisons with other jurisdictions were made in respect of motor and public liability insurance. The study found that premium rates in Ireland were higher than in other EU countries surveyed.
The Deloitte & Touche report found that the two major factors driving up the cost of personal injury settlements in Ireland were medical inflation and the high transactions cost of claims, particularly legal costs, including the cost of expert witnesses. In response to these findings, a special working group was established under the aegis of our Department. I have just received the group's final report and I am currently examining its recommendations.
The special working group, as part of its remit, commissioned research into the processing of personal injury claims in Ireland and the United Kingdom as well as a research based study of personal injury compensation systems in operation in other European countries, New Zealand and the United States. However, this research does not specifically address the issue of motor and public liability insurance cover in the various countries.
The Deloitte & Touche report also identified improved health and safety measures in the workplace as a way of reducing costs. I would regard the initiatives on the establishment of affinity schemes for small businesses and the development of a voluntary code of practice, in safe working and accident prevention, as significant and positive measures being taken by Irish business, through a social partnership approach, to reduce the cost burden of accidents in the workplace.
