In response to reports by RTE, the Alliance for Insurance Reform warmly welcomes the decision not to introduce the proposed 17% increase in personal injury awards.
Last year the Judicial Council performed an independent assessment of the Personal Injury Guidelines and made recommendations to the Minister for Justice in accordance with the relevant legislation in January 2025. However, the decision as to whether these recommendations are accepted is a matter for the legislature, which must be cognisant of a myriad of other policy considerations; including rising premiums, existing award levels that are significantly higher than in other jurisdictions and the potentially adverse impact upward reviews every three years will have on the effective functioning of the Injuries Resolution Board.
The Alliance hope a satisfactory revised process will be introduced to ensure the system of administering personal injury awards can deliver fair settlements to claimants and affordable insurance for policyholders.
The government has made this decision not for the benefit of insurance companies but for policyholders. In terms of liability insurance for businesses, sports, community and voluntary groups we have seen substantial decreases in the volume of claims and the size of awards. It is unconscionable that insurers have chosen not to pass on savings to customers, choosing instead to prioritise profits over their policyholders. All appropriate pressure must be brought to bear on them by our elected representatives and we look forward to seeing how the next action plan for insurance reform will address this key issue.
This was a grassroots campaign by local business, sports, community and voluntary organisations who were deeply concerned at the proposed increase in the context of ongoing cost of doing businesses challenges and wrote in their hundreds to government ministers expressing their concerns. It is important, and very welcome, that these concerns were listened to.
The Federation of Irish Sport is a proud member of the Alliance for Insurance Reform which brings together 47 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.