Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 January 2018
105. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance the status of the second phase of the cost of insurance working group on employer liability and public liability; when the working group will come forward with recommendations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4280/18]
View answerThe second phase of the Cost of Insurance Working Group under the Chairmanship of the Minister of State for Financial Services and Insurance, Michael D’Arcy TD, recently concluded its report in relation to employer liability and public liability insurance.
This report was provided to me earlier in January and I endorsed it. Following the necessary consultations with Government Departments, the Minister of State presented the Cost of Insurance Working Group’s (CIWG’s) Report on the Cost of Employer and Public Liability Insurance to Government on 23 January 2018, and the Government approved the report. The Report was subsequently published on 25 January.
The CIWG’s Report makes 15 recommendations with 29 associated actions to be carried out. The recommendations and actions are detailed in an action plan contained in the report with agreed timelines for implementation. The recommendations, covering three main themes, include actions to:
- Increase Transparency: enhance levels of transparency and improve data sharing and collection processes
- Review the level of damages in personal injury cases: request that the Law Reform Commission undertake a detailed analysis of the possibility of developing constitutionally sound legislation to delimit or cap the amounts of damages which a court may award in respect of some or all categories of personal injuries and
- Improve the personal injuries litigation framework: through a number of measures, namely:
1. ensuring potential defendants are notified in sufficient time that an incident has occurred in relation to which a claim is going to be made against their policy;
2. tackling fraudulent or exaggerated claims; and
3. ensuring suitable training and information supports are available to the judiciary to assist in the fair and consistent assessment and awarding of damages in personal injury cases.
The Working Group will continue to meet in 2018 and will focus on the ongoing implementation of the 2017 Motor Report and this new Report focusing on Employer and Public Liability insurance.
