Alliance asks political parties where they stand on insurance reform
The Alliance for Insurance Reform has sent a letter to every political party asking them where they stand on insurance reform in advance of General Election 2020. The text is as follows:
“In advance of the General Election, the Alliance for Insurance Reform wishes to update its members and the public regarding your party’s support for the four key reforms we are seeking, namely:
- Reduce unfair general damages to reflect international norms and the principles already established by the higher courts – including that ‘minor injuries attract modest damages’
- Review and re-balance the “common duty of care” to require occupiers to take a duty of care that is reasonable, practical and proportionate
- Support a fully-resourced Garda Insurance Fraud Unit
- Insist on insurers committing to a schedule of forecast reductions for planned reforms
Can you please confirm whether you support each of these reforms and whether they will be included in your party’s manifesto for General Election 2020?
We will be publishing your response and that of the other parties in order to update our members and the public.”
Peter Boland, Director of the Alliance said “Today we learn that nursing homes are threatened by the withdrawal of one of their insurers from the market. Recently it was childcare providers. From community centres to concrete manufacturers, from playgrounds to nightclubs and restaurants to sports clubs, every aspect of Irish society and commerce is threatened by the current crisis. As we wait for replies to our letter to the political parties we have a message for them – we do not have time to wait for real reforms because this is more than an electoral issue, it is a societal issue.”
NOTE:
The Alliance brings together 35 civic and business organisations from across Ireland, representing over 37,000 members, 665,000 employees, 493,000 volunteers and 374,000 students in highlighting the negative impact of persistently high premiums and calling for real reforms that will quickly reduce liability and motor insurance premiums to affordable levels and keep them that way. Our members include:
- AOIFE Ireland (Association of Irish Festival Events)
- Car Rental Council of Ireland
- Childminding Ireland
- Coach Tourism & Transport Council of Ireland
- Convenience Stores and Newsagents Association
- Cork Business Association
- Federation of Irish Sport
- Galway Chamber
- Galway City Business Association
- Galway County Public Participation Network (PPN)
- Ireland Active
- Ireland’s Association for Adventure Tourism
- Irish Caravan and Camping Council
- Irish Concrete Federation
- Irish Hotels Federation
- Irish Road Haulage Association
- Irish Showman’s Guild
- Irish Street Arts, Circus and Spectacle Network
- Irish Travel Agents Association
- ISME
- Licensed Vintners Association
- Motorsport Ireland
- Nursing Homes Ireland
- Play Activity and Leisure Ireland
- Quick Service Food Alliance
- Restaurants Association of Ireland
- Retail Excellence
- RGDATA
- Sligo PPN
- Society of the Irish Motor Industry
- South Dublin County PPN
- Sport Ireland
- Union of Students in Ireland
- Vintners Federation of Ireland
- The Wheel (Ireland’s national association for community, voluntary and charitable organisations)
The Federation of Irish Sport as members of the Alliance for Insurance Reform are supporting the work on the insurance agenda. Federation CEO Mary O’Connor met with the Alliance in advance of General Election 2020 to discuss the issues most pertinent to our members.
The Alliance have issued the below letter to political parties as part of their GE2020 work.
Dear
In advance of the General Election, the Alliance for Insurance Reform wishes to update its members and the public regarding your party’s support for the four key reforms we are seeking, namely:
- Reduce unfair general damages to reflect international norms and the principles already established by the higher courts – including that ‘minor injuries attract modest damages’
- Review and re-balance the “common duty of care” to require occupiers to take a duty of care that is reasonable, practical and proportionate
- Support a fully-resourced Garda Insurance Fraud Unit
- Insist on insurers committing to a schedule of forecast reductions for planned reforms
Can you please confirm whether you support each of these reforms and whether they will be included in your party’s manifesto for General Election 2020?
We will be publishing your response and that of the other parties in order to update our members and the public.
Yours sincerely,
Peter Boland
Director
Alliance for Insurance Reform