The Alliance for Insurance Reform has welcomed Government proposals to amend the Occupiers’ Liability Act 1995 in relation to the duty of care.
Eoin McCambridge, Managing Director of McCambridge’s of Galway and Director of the Alliance said, “The absolute duty of care often imposed on Irish businesses, voluntary and community groups, sports and cultural organisations and charities goes way beyond what is imposed in other jurisdictions and serves as a real impediment to any organisation dealing with the public. This draft legislation is long overdue.”
Peter Boland, Director of the Alliance said “The outline proposals to reform the duty of care legislation look balanced, fair, practical and proportionate. We welcome them and look forward to seeing the detailed proposals.
“Speed is now of the essence in progressing to working legislation. The Government must be prepared for and resist trenchant opposition from personal injury lawyers, who are currently seeking to derail the new Judicial Guidelines with constitutional and other challenges. They will undoubtedly take the same approach to these proposals as they will not give up this gravy train easily.”
Tracy Sheridan, owner of Kidspace play centres in Rathfarnham and Rathcoole and director of the Alliance said “Of all the major challenges facing Ireland right now, insurance is the one that Government can fix quickest. But reforms are not moving fast enough, and policyholders cannot wait much longer for them to be put in place. Government has a golden opportunity to sort out the cost of insurance now and forever, but only if they get reforms such as the rebalancing of the duty of care done now, before the opportunity is lost.”
ENDS
NOTE:
The Alliance for Insurance Reform brings together 47 civic and business organisations from across Ireland, representing over 55,000 members, 700,000 employees, 622,000 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
- Community Reuse Network Ireland
- Convenience Stores and Newsagents Association
- Cork Business Association
- Disability Federation of Ireland
- Early Childhood Ireland
- Family Business Network Ireland
- Federation of Irish Sport
- Galway Chamber
- Galway City Business Association
- Galway County Public Participation Network (PPN)
- Historic Houses of Ireland
- Home and Community Care Ireland
- Incoming Tour Operators Association Ireland
- Ireland Active
- Ireland’s Association for Adventure Tourism
- Irish Caravan and Camping Council
- Irish Charity Shops Association
- 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
- National Campaign for the Arts
- National Community Care Network
- 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
- Theatre Forum
- Union of Students in Ireland
- Vintners Federation of Ireland
- Volunteer Ireland
- The Wheel (Ireland’s national association for community, voluntary and charitable organisations)
For further information contact:
Peter Boland
ALLIANCE FOR INSURANCE REFORM
TEL: 086 826 6036
WEB: insurancereform.ie
FB: /insurancereformireland
TW: @InsuranceRefIre