Mar 8, 2021
Calls on Government to intervene immediately and do the right thing
The Alliance for Insurance Reform has reacted with dismay to the new Personal Injuries Guidelines published today by the Judicial Council and has called on the Government to immediately intervene to do the right thing for hard-pressed motorists, charities, voluntary and community groups, sports and cultural organisations and SMEs severely affected by insurance costs, by dramatically reducing the proposed damages for minor injuries.
The new judicial guidelines are set to replace the current Book of Quantum guidelines on the amounts awarded for personal injuries.
Peter Boland, Director of the Alliance, said “Getting insurance costs down means cutting the general damages paid out for minor, fully recovered injuries to reflect international norms and norms already established by the Court of Appeal. It would have taken reductions of 80% to the damages handed out for such injuries in order to do so. In advance of the adoption of these guidelines, we called on the judiciary to have regard to the common good in their deliberations but they have ignored this plea and we are dismayed at what they are now proposing.”
Examples of minor injuries that remain way too high following the Judicial Council review include:
- Minor thumb injury (no sprain, no breakage). Was €21,200 reduced to €12,000 (-43%) . Currently €4,582 in England & Wales
- Whiplash. Minor, substantially recovered. Was €15,700. Now €6,000 (-62%). Currently €4,192 in England & Wales (will drop to €1,492 in May). Up to €1,125 in Germany. Unlikely to receive compensation in Sweden.
- Whiplash. Minor, full recovery expected. Was €19,400. Now €12,000 (-38%). Currently €7,605 in England & Wales (will drop to €4,763 in May).
- Whiplash. Moderate. Was €30,200. Now €23,000 (-24%). Currently €13,225 in England & Wales
- Back. Minor, full recovery expected. Was €18,400. Now €12,000 (-35%). Currently €7,605 in England & Wales
- Ankle. Minor. Was €23,100. Now €12,000 (-48%). Currently €7,413 in England & Wales
“We have now written to An Tánaiste Leo Varadkar, in his role as Chair of the Cabinet Committee Sub-Group on Insurance Reform, asking Government to intervene immediately, take control of the situation and cap general damages such that damages for minor injuries are reduced by an average of 80% compared to the previous Book of Quantum guidelines. The Law Reform Commission has made it clear that such an action would be entirely constitutional subject to certain safeguards and it is up to the Government to do the right thing now for the sake of the common good.
“In the meantime, any changes implemented as a result of today’s announcement should be immediately passed on in reductions by insurers to their policyholders.“
Eoin McCambridge, managing director of McCambridge’s of Galway and director of the Alliance said “The single biggest element of the cost of insurance, as determined by the Cost of Insurance Working Group, the Personal Injuries Commission and the Central Bank’s National Claims Information Database, is compensation; and general damages for minor injuries account for the vast majority of compensation payouts. What we award for minor, fully recovered injuries in Ireland is 4.4 times higher than in England & Wales and further multiples higher than other European jurisdictions. An 80% reduction on minor injuries would only bring us down to where England and Wales currently are and would still be nowhere near the equivalent damages in other European countries – and England and Wales are further slashing their damages for minor whiplash injuries this May.
“We are not talking about damages for serious injuries here. Where a person is seriously injured due the negligence of someone else, they must be properly compensated and that is what insurance is there for. What we are talking about are the bumps, bruises and mild, fully recovered whiplash injuries where treatment ends when the legal action is finished. We reward these injuries at a level unprecedented in Europe and these are the awards that are damaging Irish society.”
Tracy Sheridan, owner of Kidspace play centres in Rathfarnham and Rathcoole and director of the Alliance said “Insurance costs remain an existential issue for Irish SMEs, charities, sports and cultural organisations, voluntary and community groups. Government must move immediately on this because the Irish economy is not going to recover from Covid-19 through SMEs, or Irish society through the voluntary & community sector, unless insurance is sorted.”
END
NOTES:
“The single biggest element of the cost of insurance…is compensation”: See Alliance for Insurance Reform Fact Sheet No. 2 “Who Gets What?” graphic.
“Damages for minor injuries account for the vast majority of compensation payouts”: See PIAB – Insights into the Personal Injury Environment, November 2019
“And England and Wales are further slashing their damages for minor whiplash injuries this May.” https://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=462cc73f-7e17-4547-a22a-0b4c0327c24f
“What we are talking about are the bumps, bruises and mild, fully recovered whiplash injuries where treatment ends when the legal action is finished.”: https://www.irishtimes.com/news/health/most-whiplash-patients-end-treatment-when-legal-action-finished-1.4041918
Overall, the Alliance expects general damages for minor, fully recovered soft tissue injuries to be recalibrated in the manner reflected in the ISME Fair Book of Quantum which corresponds with our own independent academic advice.
The Alliance for Insurance Reform brings together 41 civic and business organisations from across Ireland, representing over 55,000 members, 700,000 employees, 614,000 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
- Early Childhood Ireland
- Family Business Network Ireland
- Federation of Irish Sport
- Galway Chamber
- Galway City Business Association
- Galway County Public Participation Network (PPN)
- Home and Community Care Ireland
- 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
- National Campaign for the Arts
- 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
- Volunteer Ireland
- The Wheel (Ireland’s national association for community, voluntary and charitable organisations)
For further details contact:
Peter Boland
ALLIANCE FOR INSURANCE REFORM
TEL: 086 826 6036
WEB: insurancereform.ie
FB: /insurancereformireland
TW: @InsuranceRefIre
Mar 2, 2021
With Funding from IHREC, the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, the UNESCO Chair at MTU and key sports stakeholders in Ireland namely the Federation of Irish Sport, Sport Ireland, the GAA, Sport Against Racism Ireland and the Central Statistics Office have launched TRUST Ireland. TRUST Ireland is designed to socialise sport, human rights and the Sustainable Development Goals among government agents, the sports sector, higher education and training, and rights holders on the island of Ireland.
As part of Munster Technological University’s Innovation and Enterprise Month, TRUST Ireland are launching a photo and caption competition. Entrants are invited to submit a photo or video on what “human rights in and through sport” means to them, along with a short (240 character) caption explaining their choice. Entries can be original or curated photos or videos.
The competition is open to people of all ages both across Ireland and internationally. In particular, input from rightsholder groups including people with disabilities; women and girls; Travellers and ethnic minorities; the LGBTQI+ community; asylum seekers, refugees and migrants; and disadvantaged or marginalised communities are sought.
Prizes in the form of vouchers will be offered in the following categories:
- Best overall entry
- Best picture / video
- Best caption
- Youth award
- Popular vote award
- Best MTU entry
Key dates:
March 1st 19:00 (GMT). An online webinar will launch the competition. Webinar Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89172930476
March 1st – 19th: The competition will be open for submissions which can be submitted here: http://unescoittralee.com/trust-photo-caption-competition/
March 25th 19:00 (GMT). An online webinar will be held to showcase entries and announce the winners in all categories. Webinar link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81757005132
Mar 1, 2021
- EU Commissioner Mariya Gabriel, Innovation, Research, Culture, Education, Sport and Youth delivered the keynote address to Federation of Irish Sport members at today’s CEO/Manager forum.
- Minister Jack Chambers spoke of the power of collaboration, innovation and support across the European member states as we all strive to overcome the challenges of COVID-19 in the sector and maximise innovation and opportunity moving forward.
- Danny Mansergh of Mercer Marsh explored the future of work and the opportunities and challenges COVID-19 might present going forward.
The Federation of Irish Sport were delighted to host their first CEO forum of 2021 focusing on innovation, the future of work and the power of sport with special guests EU Commissioner Gabriel, Minister Chambers and Danny Mansergh. The event brought together 80 individuals from more than 40 sporting organisations and showcased the value of shared learning.
Commissioner Gabriel’s work in Innovation, Research, Culture, Education, Sport and Youth aligns with that of Federation members and her keynote address served to update, inspire and drive innovation among the Irish sport sector. The commissioner’s work supports the belief that ‘Sport lies at the centre of interest and everyday life of European citizens. It is vital for our society and for our economy’, a view that all Federation of Irish Sport members share.
Government Chief Whip and Minister of state at the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht and Sport with special responsibility for Sport and the Gaeltacht Jack Chambers spoke of the power of sport and physical activity to bring communities together and paid tribute to the innovation and resilience shown by those working in the sector during trying times.
The final speaker of the day, Career and Health Lead with Mercer Marsh, Danny Mansergh posed the question of whether the post COVID workplace presents challenges or opportunities. The presentation delivered interesting insights into the future of a dynamic and changing world of work.
Speaking about the event, Federation CEO Mary O’Connor said, ‘We were delighted to be able to bring our members together virtually today to gain valuable insight on the work of the EU commission and that of our own government as it relates to Sport and Physical Activity. We thank our special guests today for sharing their knowledge and insight on the innovation and importance of the sector during these challenging times. It is vital that the sector has the opportunity to engage, understand and learn from the work of the EU commission, the government and our subject matter experts, particularly during challenging times where advocacy for sport and physical activity, and it’s role in society, is of key importance.’
The member forum also provided updates on the work of the Federation of Irish Sport over the past months including the hugely successful Volunteers in Sport Awards, insight into member engagement activities and advocacy for the year ahead.
ENDS.
Queries to sarah.maloney@irishsport.ie
Feb 25, 2021
- Danny Mansergh is Career and Health lead at Mercer Marsh Benefits and will deliver an insight into the future of work in his presentation titled ‘The post Covid-19 workplace – challenge or opportunity?’
- The CEO/Manager briefing will also provide updates to members on the work of the Federation of Irish Sport from CEO, Mary O’Connor.
The Federation of Irish Sport are delighted to announce that Mercer Marsh Benefits will be contributing to the upcoming member forum on the area of HR and the workplace. Career and Health lead Danny Mansergh will be on hand to discuss the implications of COVID-19 on the future of the workplace and the challenges and opportunities it presents for organisations.
Speaking about Mr Mansergh’s attendance, Federation CEO Mary O’Connor said, ‘The Federation is delighted to have Mercer Marsh as a contributor for our upcoming forum. The world as we know it has changed and that is true for the workplace and our employees. We know that COVID-19 has presented many challenges but as we look towards a new future, we must also identify the opportunities for our workforce. We look forward to Danny’s insights on the future of the workplace next Monday.’
The member forum will also provide updates on the work of the Federation of Irish Sport over the past months including the hugely successful Volunteers in Sport Awards, insight into member engagement activities and advocacy for the year ahead.
ENDS.
Queries to sarah.maloney@irishsport.ie
Feb 24, 2021
The Federation of Irish Sport recognises the need for continued focus on public health measures and fully appreciates the seriousness of the situation since December. However, we are concerned on how little detail was available on the reopening of sport and physical activity in the Government’s “Living with COVID” plan announced yesterday. As we have said on many occasions, we firmly believe that Sport and Physical Activity in all its forms is going to play a crucial role in restoring both the physical and mental health of the country as we come out of lockdown. While we would not expect a plan to include specific dates at this point in time, we strongly believe that a strategy, and indeed Roadmap, for the reopening of sport, beyond the definitions allowed for at level 5 would have provided a much needed lift for all.
The Federation and its members have expressed concerns about the underlying issues created and fostered by this pandemic and associated restrictions. The absence of sport and physical activity are most certainly contributing to issues of isolation, mental health, physical inactivity, social inclusion issues and access to sport for people with a disability. We have always stressed that Sport and Physical Activity must be part of the long-term solution to the pandemic and we understand that Government shares that view. However, we need to see this perspective included in government plans moving forward and a clear outline of when our organisations, and their clubs can return to supporting the health and wellbeing of their communities in a meaningful way.
We strongly believe that a roadmap that sets out the Government’s thinking on the phased reopening of all sport and physical activity is essential and that it be published as soon as possible, if only to demonstrate the Government’s commitment to the role that sport and physical activity can and will play as we exit this pandemic.
While that is our priority, we would also hope that Government gives every consideration as to how organized sport will need to be funded beyond when the sector re-opens. In that context the Federation must acknowledge the government financial supports to date which have been welcomed by all in sport. The resilience and recovery package delivered in 2020 was a light at a very dark time for many sporting bodies. However, those supports did not factor in a longer term set of restrictions and it is imperative now that further supports are considered for sporting bodies, of all size, in the governments forthcoming National Recovery and Resilience Plan.
Feb 22, 2021
NCGC and Twisters Elite are gymnastics and cheer programs based in Swords Dublin. They have always known that Gymnastics and Cheer is ‘More Than a Sport’ and the current climate has emphasized even more what a huge part it plays in the growth and development of young people. Their athletes trained anywhere from 1 hour to 12 hours a week, most considered the gym a second home. When the first lockdown hit in March 2020, they knew it would have a huge impact on their lives. As it is, it is very difficult to keep children in sport especially girls and Covid has made this task even more difficult. They wanted to do their best to keep the athletes focused and continue to be involved and engaged in their sport. They started our zoom classes straight away and utilized their online social media platforms by posting daily challenges, dance sequences, competitions, throw backs etc.
Due to COVID-19 challenges the club found themselves without a facility in mid 2020. They had 2 programs of athletes and coaches all eager to get back to training but no facility to train in. In the face of the challenge they had 2 options – Close down our club after 15 years or take the very scary step of opening a full-time facility. They took the brave decision to look for a full-time premise and found a warehouse with the potential to suit all of the club’s needs. To say it needed a lot of work was an understatement but with a lot of help they opened their very own full-time facility in time for classes in July 2020. The club looks forward to making the most of the new facility when activity returns in full when safe to do so.
