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Insurance Industry Regulation

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 June 2014

Tuesday, 10 June 2014

Ceisteanna (163, 164, 188)

Gerald Nash

Ceist:

163. Deputy Gerald Nash asked the Minister for Finance the steps he has taken with the Central Bank of Ireland to protect the interests of Setanta Insurance policy holders; if he is considering the introduction of measures to permit the return of premiums due to policy holders and to provide clarity regarding the payment of pending claims; the date on which his Department first became aware of the difficulties facing the company; the action his Department took to protect the interest of policy holders here; the new mechanisms that will be put in place to protect the customers of companies regulated outside of Ireland; and if his Department will support a review of passporting in-out requirements in the industry. [24354/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

John Browne

Ceist:

164. Deputy John Browne asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 55 of 29 May 2014, regarding Setanta Insurance, the date on which the home regulator advised the host regulator of the company’s solvency issue, of the company's deficit and any measures required; if it is his understanding that the accounts of Setanta Insurance showed it was not solvent from a regulatory viewpoint for some time and could not therefore be in a position to meet its EU regulatory obligations under Solvency I; if he will expand on his statement that the regulatory obligations were met, and at what point in time they were met; his views on the behaviour of the home regulator in this case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24358/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Patrick O'Donovan

Ceist:

188. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Finance in relation to the recent Setanta Insurance liquidation, the recourse or action available to persons to recoup their policy premiums; if the State has provided assistance to other insurance companies who have got into financial difficulty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24635/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 163, 164 and 188 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.

Setanta was regulated at EU regulatory level in accordance with a directive known as Solvency I which currently places requirements on the amount of regulatory capital European insurance companies must hold against unforeseen events. I understand that Setanta met its EU regulatory obligations and under EU law is, therefore, entitled to trade across EU borders. Under EU legislation the Central Bank of Ireland is not responsible for the prudential supervision of Irish branches of credit institutions authorised in other EEA Member States and operating under a passporting arrangement in Ireland.  The Central Bank does however have responsibility for the supervision of such entities in the following areas:

1. in co-operation with the home state regulator, assessment of their compliance with liquidity requirements;

2. consumer protection issues; and

3. compliance with Anti-Money Laundering regulations.

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 EU law which governs non-life insurance, an insurer is required to inform the regulator in its home Member State (its home regulator) that it intends to pursue business in another Member State. The home regulator must then provide the host regulator with a certificate attesting that the insurer covers the EU Solvency Capital Requirement, as well as the nature of the business which the insurer intends to undertake. The insurer may start to pursue business from the date that the certificate is communicated to the host regulator, in this case the Central Bank of Ireland.

Under Article 20 of the Third Non-Life Directive the Home Regulator is also 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 the 16th 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 and I have asked them to convey my wish that every effort is made to facilitate Setanta policyholders in obtaining new motor insurance policies and in understanding their overall position.  We are endeavouring to obtain legal certainty on a number of matters relating to policyholders' claims for compensation and this will be made publicly available in due course.  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 in line with the terms of the policies. 

In the circumstances, I continue to strongly advise policyholders to make alternative insurance arrangements without delay and that they should contact their insurance broker or an insurer directly to seek alternative cover.

The Liquidator made arrangements for policyholders to obtain their "no claims bonuses" certificates from Setanta. Insurance Ireland have informed me that these certificates are being honoured by other insurers and we are aware that many insurers are being flexible surrounding requirements for documents.  In addition, the Insurance Ireland 'Declined Cases Agreement' is available to policyholders of Setanta.  I am informed that under the agreement, the insurance market will not refuse to provide insurance to an individual seeking insurance, if he/she has approached at least three insurers and has not been able to obtain cover from them.  I understand that Insurance Ireland is also making information available to those who have queries, complaints or difficulties in relation to this matter through their service at (01) 676 1914 or by email at info@insuranceireland.eu.

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. However, unpaid premium would fall to be claimed from the Setanta Liquidator in due course.

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