Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 11 July 2018
90. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Finance the status of the implementation of the report on the cost of employer and public liability insurance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31009/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe second phase of the Cost of Insurance Working Group project culminated in the publication on January 25th of the Report on the Cost of Employer and Public Liability Insurance, following its approval by Government. This Report makes 15 recommendations with 29 associated actions to be carried out, detailed in an Action Plan contained in the Report with agreed timelines for implementation. All 29 actions are scheduled to be implemented before the end of 2019, with 26 due for completion this year.
There is a commitment within the Report that the Working Group will prepare quarterly updates on its progress. Following the four previous such quarterly reports which focused exclusively on the implementation of the Report on the Cost of Motor Insurance, the Fifth Progress Update was published on May 11th and shows that in respect of the eight actions from the Report on Employer and Public Liability Insurance due for completion in Q1 2018, all eight deadlines have been met.
It is appreciated that these eight actions in the main can best be described as stepping stones to the implementation of broader policy initiatives such as, for instance, improving the engagement process between insurers and policyholders with claims submitted against them, and ensuring that enhanced communication between An Garda Síochána and the insurance industry will lead to more effective investigation and prosecution of cases involving insurance fraud. Nevertheless, they are important first steps and I am confident that further significant progress can be made over the coming months.
It is envisaged that the next quarterly Progress Update will be completed by the end of July and will be ready for publication on the Department of Finance website shortly after. This update will provide details on the implementation of all of the recommendations from both primary Reports. However, a particular focus will be placed upon the 14 actions across the two Reports with Q2 2018 deadlines, including seven actions from the Report on the Cost of Employer and Public Liability Insurance.
