Vol. 554 No. 5
178 Mr. Ring asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the action she intends to take on the escalating costs of insurance, particularly public liability insurance, as many jobs will be lost as a direct result of this; the action the Government is taking in this regard; and the action, if any, it has taken since coming into office. [16356/02]
181 Mr. Haughey asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the measures she is taking to deal with the high costs of insurance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16529/02]
185 Mr. Ring asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment her plans regarding the public liability insurance costs for small employers; her proposals to try and help these people; and if her Department will investigate the high costs of public liability insurance for small employers. [16566/02]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 178, 181 and 185 together.
A comprehensive set of measures is contained in the Agreed Programme for Government, the underlying purpose of which is to bring about an improvement in the functioning of the insurance market and the system itself. The measures range across a number of Departments and other bodies. I intend to oversee their implementation as a matter of priority and I expect a quid pro quo from the industry.
The more significant of the measures are an action plan to implement the 67 recommendations in the report of the Motor Insurance Advisory Board, MIAB, and the establishment of the Personal Injuries Assessment Board. Many of the findings and a number of the recommendations of the MIAB, though concerned with motor insurance, have equal relevance to employer and public liability insurance.
