Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 June 2014
184. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide any financial assistance to those who lost their insurance premiums following the recent collapse of Setanta Insurance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25925/14]
View answer190. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Finance the date on which he became aware that Setanta Insurance was in financial difficulty; the measures he took or intends to take to protect the interests of Irish insurance holders who have lost considerable sums of money since the collapse of the company; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25978/14]
View answer192. Deputy Regina Doherty asked the Minister for Finance when the Financial Regulator was made aware of the financial difficulties of Setanta Insurance; if any discussions took place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25992/14]
View answer208. Deputy Regina Doherty asked the Minister for Finance when the Financial Regulator was made aware of the financial difficulties of Setanta Insurance; the discussions, if any, that took place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26073/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 184, 190, 192 and 208 together.
At the outset, I would like to say that both I, as Minister for Finance, and the Government are concerned over the situation that arose with regard to the Irish policyholders of Setanta Insurance Company Limited (Setanta). My Department and the Central Bank will be reviewing the circumstances relating to Setanta and will be reporting to me on what lessons can be learnt and how the framework can be strengthened. The European Commission has indicated that it will also review whether any issues raised relating to the regulatory framework require action.
Setanta is a Maltese incorporated company which was both authorised and prudentially supervised by the Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA). The Central Bank is in contact with the MFSA in relation to Setanta Insurance Company Limited, the impact on policyholders and the provision for relevant and appropriate information. The current legal and regulatory framework for the provision of insurance in the EEA, and the supervision of that activity, is prescribed by European Union Law in the Life and Non-Life Insurance Directives. The provision of insurance throughout the EEA on a freedom of services basis and a freedom of establishment basis (i.e. a branch) within this framework is predicated upon the absence of internal market frontiers and the mutual recognition of the authorisation of insurance undertakings by Member States.
The Insurance Directives specify particular roles for both the home Member State supervisory authority (i.e. the supervisory authority that grants an authorisation) and the host Member State supervisory authority (i.e. the supervisory authority of a Member State where an insurance undertaking conducts business of a freedom of services or freedom of establishment basis) of an insurance undertaking. Insurance undertakings authorised under the Insurance Directives are subject to solvency and financial reserving requirements, the supervision of these requirements is the sole responsibility of the home Member State supervisory authority. The primary objective of these requirements is to ensure that claims made in respect of policies issued will be adequately provided for by an insurance undertaking.
Under Article 20 of the Third Non-Life Directive the Home Regulator is required to notify the Host Regulator if the solvency margin of an undertaking falls below the statutory requirement. In such instances the Home Regulator should inform the Host Regulator of the measures it has taken to address the solvency deficit. Following negotiations that were completed at European level in November, 2013, a new regime known as Solvency II will commence on 1 January 2016, which will further strengthen the EU regulatory framework. The Solvency II EU Directive sets out new, stronger EU-wide requirements on capital adequacy and risk management for insurers with the key aim of increasing policyholder protection. The new regime will also ensure greater cooperation between supervisors.
The Central Bank had Regulator to Regulator contact with the MFSA in September 2013. In October 2013 the Central Bank undertook a consumer protection inspection of Setanta. The Central Bank became aware of prudential issues in the course of this investigation and subsequently shared these with the MFSA in November 2013. At this point the Central Bank entered into a phase of heightened contact with the MFSA in relation to these issues. Regular contact was maintained in the following months, and in January 2014 an announcement was made that the firm would cease writing new business and issuing further renewals. The Central Bank wrote on 16 January 2014 to advise my Department of their concerns with Setanta's solvency margin and I was subsequently informed of this.
With regard to the position of Setanta policyholders, my officials have been in discussions with the Central Bank of Ireland, with the Setanta Liquidator, the Accountant of the High Court and with the insurance industry representative bodies. We are endeavouring to obtain legal certainty on a number of matters relating to unearned premiums and policyholders' claims for compensation and this will be made publicly available in due course. When clarification has been received from the liquidator in the first instance, I will consider what steps, if any, will be appropriate. At this time, I propose to set out the position as it currently stands.
Setanta was formally placed into liquidation by the MFSA on the 30 April 2014 and a liquidator was appointed. Officials from my Department together with officials from the Central Bank met with the Liquidator and his representatives in Ireland on 7 May 2014 and the Central Bank is in ongoing contact with him regarding the position of Setanta policyholders. All Setanta policies have now been cancelled by the liquidator in line with the terms of the policies.
With regard to Setanta premiums and claims, the position on each policy is for the liquidator to decide in due course. My officials and the Central Bank will remain in close contact with the Liquidator and I have asked that public statements are provided to clarify matters for policyholders and claimants.
The Motor Insurance Bureau of Ireland (MIBI) is a non-profit-making organisation registered in Ireland. All insurance companies underwriting motor insurance in this county must, by law, be members of MIBI and contribute to the funding of claims in proportion to their market share. The principal role of MIBI is to compensate innocent victims of accidents caused by uninsured and unidentified vehicles. This is regulated under the terms of an Agreement between the MIBI and the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport. We are endeavouring to clarify the position on a number of matters relating to policyholders' claims for compensation, including the role of MIBI in this regard. However, if, for legal reasons, MIBI is not in a position to accept a claim, these third party claims will be eligible to proceed for consideration by the High Court for compensation from the Insurance Compensation Fund (ICF).
Under Section 6 of the Insurance Act 1964 the Minister for Finance may, on the recommendation of the Bank, advance from time to time to the ICF such sum as he thinks proper to enable payments out of the Fund. During the administration of Quinn Insurance Limited, Primor plc (formerly PMPA) and Icarom plc (formerly Insurance Corporation of Ireland) the State was required to advance funds to the ICF in order to ensure that the administrators were adequately funded in order to meet their financial obligations as they arose.
Claims on personal insurance policies will be payable from the ICF. All ICF payments are subject to the limit of 65% of the amount due or €825,000, whichever is the lesser. Under Section 3.6 of the Insurance Amendment Act 1964 (as amended) first party claims by a body corporate or unincorporated body are not covered by the ICF. The refund of premiums for either commercial or personal insurance policies is not covered by the ICF or MIBI.
