Linda Nelson Murray
Industrial and Commercial Panel · Fine Gael · Ireland
“Navan hospital always needs to be strengthened, not sidelined. We need investment in that to grow with the population that is growing in Meath, and that Meath people have a hospital that grows with their needs and does not fall behind. I am discussing this with the Minister for Health, Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill.”
“The Irish Cancer Society is in the news today. We met its representatives last week and had a very good engagement over in Buswells Hotel where they were giving us some numbers. I wanted to home in on bowel cancer. There are 2,500 people diagnosed with bowel cancer each year in Ireland.”
“We have had amazing debates in here from all sides of the Chamber. Everybody, without a shadow of a doubt, is a pleasure to work with. We can achieve things together whether we are in opposition or in government. I thank everybody. It is really nice to come in to the Chamber and I look forward to it every Tuesday.”
“I thank everybody in that group, particularly the Senators in this Chamber who worked on the group, because it is a day to be acknowledged. Hopefully, we will see it come through quickly. I want to follow on from that by asking the Leader to speak to the Minister, Deputy Calleary, who is working very hard on a baby loss register.”
“Senator Nicole Ryan and I, with other Senators, including Senators Patricia Stephenson, Tom Clonan and Evanne Ní Chuilinn, and many TDs - it was a complete cross-party Oireachtas group - came together and have been working on how to actually do this over the last year. Today is a very positive day for all of us in our group.”
“It was about a year ago that we had a very emotive debate in the House when Senator Nicole Ryan brought suggestions for a Bill on miscarriage leave. I was on this side of the House. It was very hard to actually be debating it when I think everybody in this House wanted to see something like that happen.”
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“There is a competitiveness challenge at present in Ireland, as we compete for foreign direct investment. We must take the necessary steps to position Ireland for the future and avoid the stress this company - Wellman International - and these employees now find themselves in.”
“Only two weeks ago in my office I met a girl who is an employee of Wellman International. She is looking to purchase her first home and she wanted advice and help on how to go about getting finance or a mortgage. Now, her future at Wellman does not look so bright. I appreciate we are at full employment and that the country is doing well, but that is little respite to the people working there and who perhaps have worked in the company for their entire working life. I am delighted to see IDA Ireland has engaged with the company and will continue to do so, but I urge the Departments of enterprise and the Department of Social Protection to engage in any way possible. They could perhaps help with the sale of the business, assist employees with information and, in particular, provide supports.”
“As discussed during the Commencement debate just a few minutes ago, Wellman International Ireland filed a petition to place its operation in Mullagh into examinership. I thank the Minister of State, Niamh Smyth. She came across as very passionate about the situation there, but it would be remiss of me not to raise it again, being from County Meath, because it obviously affects counties Cavan and Meath and, in fact, counties like Kildare and Louth, from where people travel to Wellman International to work. Unfortunately, the decision has been taken as a result of a deterioration in market conditions over the past three years. Wellman International is Europe's leading producer of high quality polyester fibre products from recycled post-consumer PET bottles, so it is very important. There are 215 people employed in the firm.”
“We should expand affordable housing and commercial space to ease pressure on wages and business rents and streamline regulations and planning, especially for SMEs navigating expansion, construction or licensing processes. In conclusion, competitiveness serves as a vital engine for economic growth. Ireland's competitive edge has brought us this far, but to secure a prosperous future, we must confront our challenges head-on. There is no denying that I am very passionate about small business. I am at the coal face of small business, so I really want the Minister to do all he can do.”
“Please protect our small towns and ensure they are competitive to the bigger cities by ensuring we keep car parking spaces, and keep our towns open as well as supporting active travel. Let us also zone more land for business. Let us look at how we rate businesses. Rates are one of those things. As a rate payer myself, my goodness, we really struggle with it. Mostly, it is due to the cost. I am trying to figure out how they are actually calculated. I am also wondering where the money is going. I have said this at a local level. We should be communicating to businesses what their money is being spent on. It is a no-brainer. Let us reform the insurance market to reduce premiums and increase transparency.”
“The Government's engagement with the National Competitiveness and Productivity Council over a long number of years has served us well. I think the Minister is great, and he can actively see this on the ground when meeting businesses and listening to the challenges they face. Although this is not going to sort out all our issues today, I ask the Minister to look at the few things I have mentioned. What really needs to be done to protect and enhance Ireland's competitiveness? We need to protect our local retailers. As I have said in this Chamber before, I cannot get my hair done or get my glasses renewed online. I cannot meet my friends for coffee or visit a fabulous garden centre online.”
“I urge the Minister to look at this with his colleagues, the Minister, Deputy Donohoe, and the Minister of State, Deputy Troy. I welcome the serious commitment in the current programme for Government to attract new competitors to the insurance market, specifically the public liability one, but I do not know if the Minister knows that we have not had a new insurer in Ireland in the public liability spaces in ten years. There is something wrong. Can we not explore European insurers and see if we can trade with them? If Ireland becomes perceived as an expensive place to do business, it risks losing ground to other European and global hubs. I recognise that the Government has committed to a whole-of-government action plan for competitiveness and productivity.”
“Ireland's rising costs, especially for rent, utilities, wages and insurance, are a growing burden for many businesses, especially SMEs. High insurance costs make Ireland a more expensive place to do business and only make our goods and services less competitive. Only this morning, the Minister and I were in a large manufacturing business in County Meath and heard of the frustrations caused by insurance. High awards are contributing to this and we are now on the verge of increasing them by 17%, further eroding our competitiveness. I am harping on and on about this, and I really want this stopped. The Minister or I do not want to see these awards increase as we know they will be passed on in our premiums. Government reforms have ensured claims are down, but we have not seen premiums come down.”
“I asked why so many of these machines are being put in and if it did not lead to jobs being cut. Older people's social life may sometimes just be going to the shop. The last thing they want to see is a self-scan machine. My own dad, who passed away last year, did not like to do a weekly shop. He liked to go into the centre to do his daily bits as it passed a lot of time and he loved a chat. To go back to my question to the company supplying these machines, I asked why so many of them were being put in and said it was taking away jobs. The person said it was not that the company was taking away jobs but that people cannot be found to work in the supermarkets and that was why self-scan machines have to be brought in. I thought that was such a pity. It does not allow us to be competitive at a local level.”
“We really need to look at this issue and to see what we can do to zone areas for commercial and industrial use. That is really important. We recognise that many businesses are facing increased challenges such as high operating costs, talent shortages and housing and infrastructure issues. Housing is a critical pillar of Ireland's economic competitiveness. I am not going to go into it because we talk about it a lot but it is important we get it right so that we can retain skilled workers. Despite high employment levels, businesses are still struggling to find workers. As I mentioned to the Minister this morning, I attended Retail Excellence Ireland's conference in Kilkenny on Monday evening. I spoke to a business that supplies self-scan machines for supermarkets. Personally, I prefer to go to somebody at a till.”
“Declining town centres, empty storefronts and poor public maintenance can deter footfall, as can antisocial behaviour such as graffiti. We have a shopfront enhancement scheme but this is not used for derelict buildings in our towns. In the centre of Navan, there are two derelict buildings full of graffiti. It does not entice you. On commercial space, I will bring the Minister back to County Meath again. If you were to look at renting a 5,000 sq. ft building or 8,000 sq. ft premises in Navan today, you could not find one. If you wanted a premises of more than 10,000 sq. ft, there are only three such buildings. If you wanted to set up a gym, a small manufacturing company or somewhere to get cars fixed, there is nowhere to start that business. In Trim in County Meath, there are only two units for rent.”
“Although Deputy Burke is not the Minister for Transport, we are here to speak about competitiveness, which is impacted by this issue. Another issue is broadband and digital infrastructure gaps. Broadband availability in rural Ireland is improving thanks to initiatives like the national broadband plan. While urban areas have near universal coverage, rural areas still face challenges, with coverage ranging from 42% to 50% depending on social and economic factors. Some rural and regional areas still suffer from low-speed or unreliable Internet. One such area is Ballivor, which again is in County Meath. A local business in the town contacted me in the last week. It still does not have fibre and an employee has left due to the stress of trying to do their day job. This also leaves that particular business at a competitive disadvantage.”
“Studies suggest that businesses with sufficient car parking experience higher sales and increased foot traffic. This is because customers are more likely to visit businesses that offer convenient parking. I do not mean to take anything away from Blanchardstown because it is a fantastic place but I too often hear that people are leaving Meath to go to Blanchardstown because of parking. I cannot walk the streets of Navan without a business owner expressing to me the difficulties he or she is facing due to a lack of parking. I have been liaising with Meath County Council, which is doing an incredible job on our Navan 2030 project. It is aware of the issue and is actively working on providing more car parking spaces. However, it is not just Navan. As I said earlier, this affects many towns.”
“I would like the Minister to liaise with some of his colleagues about this. This issue can undermine local competitiveness. This is what we are seeing in our small towns around Ireland. I am sure it is the same in the Minister's hometown of Mullingar but places like Navan and Oldcastle in my home county of Meath are really suffering as regards car parking spaces. Parking may seem like a mundane issue but it is a critical part of local economic strategy. If people cannot park, they will not come and, if they do not come, businesses suffer. Parking is a way to preserve local competitiveness. It plays a crucial role in making businesses accessible to customers who rely on private vehicles, particularly those who are disabled. Adequate parking ensures customers can easily unload goods, visit shops and engage with businesses.”
“We regularly speak about them being the backbone of the Irish economy. I am a business owner myself. My husband and I employ more than 20 people. Without a doubt, it is not easy. I will move on to areas where we really struggle to help with competitiveness. I will take it to the local level. The Minister spoke about a lot of things in his introduction but I will bring it down to towns. In addition to national and global challenges, there are local factors that can hamper competitiveness for business in Ireland. The Minister mentioned the promotion of regional development. Parking is not his remit but local economies thrive when people can access businesses easily, comfortably and reliably. While walking, cycling and public transport are increasingly important, adequate car parking remains vital.”
“This is driven by strong economic growth, our highly skilled workforce and our success in attracting inward investment in high value-added economic sectors. It is fantastic that Government launched the national enterprise hub. I tell anyone I can get in a business about it. A lot of them do not seem to know about it so we probably need to do a bit more marketing of it. Whether big or small, businesses should log on there and see if there are grants appropriate to them. These supports include: the financial support to embrace technology grant; BeSMART, through which you can get risk assessments for free; financial supports to help make workplaces more accessible; LEADER programmes; and so on. All of these help with our competitiveness. We know that small and medium-sized businesses are vital to our economic success.”
“I thank the Minister for coming to the Seanad today. It is his first time here and it is great to see him. I find him incredibly approachable and ready to listen and engage. Let us have a good conversation on competitiveness today. Ireland is currently experiencing its highest employment levels on record. The number of people employed reached approximately 2.8 million in the first quarter of 2025. This is across all ages. The employment rate for individuals aged 15 to 64 reached 75.3% in the third quarter of 2024, the highest level on record. Average weekly earnings have risen in every sector of the economy over the past ten years. The average weekly wage is up by almost €279 to €955. This surge in employment reflects the resilience of the economy. As the Minister has said, Ireland ranks as the most competitive country in the euro area.”
“Why not include the driver theory test as part of the curriculum? Perhaps we can chat to our Northern Irish colleagues to see what they are doing. The waiting time for a test in Northern Ireland is five weeks. How can it be possible to wait only five weeks in Fermanagh but 43 weeks in Meath? As a Member of the Seanad, I have raised the fact that Meath has the fewest gardaí per capita , the fewest GPs per capita and the longest waiting times for a driving test in the country. We need to get serious about the growing population of Meath, a commuter county, before it all spirals out of control.”
“There were 83,000 applicants awaiting a driving test in April, which was the highest number recorded since the pandemic. Navan in County Meath, my hometown, has the longest waiting times of all the test centres in the State, with applicants waiting an estimated 43 weeks. That is, of course, alongside Tallaght, the hometown of my colleague Senator Teresa Costello. Across the border in Cavan, applicants only have to wait for 22 weeks. In April 2024, Navan had a wait time of 16 weeks. In 2025, that wait time has jumped to 43 weeks. All of us here support people going out to work but are they supposed to wait for six months and live on social welfare before they apply? I appreciate that the RSA is actively looking for testers. I appreciate there is a review. How about getting to grips with this and beginning the process in transition year?”
“We are all for that. The Government is playing its part. When will insurers play theirs? I call for the Minister of State, Deputy Troy, to come to the House for a debate on this issue and try to lower premiums.”
“Today's report also shows that more than €284 million was saved in avoided legal fees by claims being resolved through the injuries resolution process rather than through litigation. I have significant concerns about a recommendation from the Judicial Council that personal injury awards should be increased by almost 17% in the coming weeks. This increase will undoubtedly be passed on by insurers and the motorists, again, will end up picking up the tab. It is also worth noting that there has been a significant reduction in claim volumes among the younger age groups. That is great to hear. However, younger people are paying astronomical premiums, which can be prohibitive for younger motorists who need to use their cars to get to work or college. In the programme for Government, there is a commitment to driving down insurance costs.”
“Today, we have seen a report from the Injuries Resolution Board that shows motor claims have fallen by a massive 30% since 2019. Motorists must justifiably be a bit fed up with high insurance costs. I will add another point that I raised two weeks ago, namely, that a Central Bank report showed that motor insurance premiums increased by 9% in the first half of last year. I have no doubt that we will see they will have increased for the second half of last year as well. Motor claims have dropped by 30% since 2019 despite a return to pre-pandemic traffic volumes, but we have seen premiums rise. In fact, there has been a 41% reduction in awards values in the six-year review period, which includes the period that the personal injury guidelines were introduced. Why have motorists not seen a reduction in their premiums?”
“SOSAD, which offers compassionate and confidential support, recognises that early help can help to save lives and believes that nobody should struggle alone. As the Minister of State will know, the future of SOSAD hangs in the balance. Yesterday, SOSAD announced that it will have to charge its clients for counselling services due to its huge operational costs and large drop in funding. I appreciate that SOSAD has been working with the HSE for section 39 funding and that the Minister of State has liaised with the charity, but I urge her to do all she can for it. I ask her to work with SOSAD to get this through as quickly as possible so that it can continue the amazing work it does for thousands of people.”
“As the Minister of State will know, there is a wonderful organisation called SOSAD, which stands for Save our Sons and Daughters. I raise its case on my own behalf and on behalf of Senator Keogan who has worked with the charity as well. Since 2007, SOSAD Ireland has six full-time offices based in Cavan, Louth, Laois, Meath and Monaghan from which they provide one-to-one and remote counselling, and a 24-7 freefone crisis line. They also work from outreach offices, one of which is based in Navan, County Meath. Since its inception, SOSAD has been dedicated to supporting individuals and families across Ireland in the managing of their mental health. SOSAD was founded by Peter Moloney from Drogheda after the death of his son, Stephen.”
“I thank the Minister of State for his response but I knew all of the answers in the response. First, I do not know why the strategy took so long to come to the time where it is nearly launched. I welcome that is to be launched and I hope it identifies that there is a major gap in County Meath. As the Minister of State rightly said himself, maybe some people do not want to be popping into an STI clinic. A women's well-being clinic is definitely what we need. Perhaps people would have to get a bus. That said, young people find it hard to even get a driving licence, never mind trying to get insured for a car, so they have to get a bus to Drogheda, Dundalk or Mullingar. It is not suitable. We need something in County Meath. I look forward to reading the health strategy. I hope it identifies that Meath is crying out for a clinic like this.”
“That, however is another day's Commencement matter, one that I would definitely bring in for another day's work given its huge importance to women. Today I am calling for access to a well-being clinic in Meath. I love the saying that sometimes the bravest and most important thing one can do is show up. In fairness to the Minister of State, he has shown up here today to discuss this topic. I have shown up here today as a female Senator to discuss this. Now let the women of Meath be allowed to show up at a clinic that is open and ready for them, ready to help their health, their mental health, their sexual health, and to allow them to continue to thrive.”
“It was a 2015 to 2020 strategy and although I am delighted we are launching a new one I wonder why it has taken so long at five years. Given how freely we can all talk about the big "M" word that is menopause, with conversations around menopause happening in cafés, restaurants and even in the office, such is the normality of talking about this now because it is no longer taboo, imagine removing the stigma around sexual health by it being more accessible and a service that can be obtained every day. Yesterday I attended a talk in the AV room on urinary stress incontinence, which is also part of sexual health for women. I listened to three women speak on how this has impacted severely and hugely on their mental health. Some of them have had to travel abroad to access the right service for them.”
“Surely towns such as Navan, Trim or Kells would be far more suitable locations for the people of Meath. We have a super hospital in Navan and a new primary care centre is opening. Perhaps they would be good locations. It is worrying to think that in 2023, sexually transmitted infections in Ireland saw a notable increase with notification rates rising to 31% compared to 2022. I welcome that we have free at-home STI testing kits but, as we know, many young people are living at home well into their 30s with their parents and I doubt they would want a package like that arriving on their doorstep. They deserve privacy and discretion, which only a well-being clinic can offer. I also welcome that hopefully, we will launch the sexual health strategy soon after the previous one expired in 2020.”
“Imagine being a young woman, concerned perhaps about family planning, about her sexual health, or maybe she has had a pregnancy scare and wants somewhere to go. She may do a little search on her phone and find there are no women's sexual health well-being clinics in County Meath. Not only that, it will take at least two weeks to be able to see a doctor. She might be a little bit embarrassed to go in to her regular GP. I am speaking about a clinic that offers services in respect of sexual health, contraception, fertility, counselling, a woman's cycle and period problems, menopause, smear tests and urinary stress incontinence. There is a great website , sexualwellbeing.ie, that can guide a person in all aspects of sexual health and unplanned pregnancies but to go to a clinic, one must travel to Dublin or Drogheda.”
“I am here today to talk about women's well-being and sexual health well-being. I am looking for a clinic for County Meath. County Meath has a growing population of about 240,000 people, and we can take it that 120,000 of them are women. Would the Minister of State believe that Meath has only half the number of GPs recommended by the World Health Organization for a county of its size? The county has the lowest number of GPs per head of population in the country at 54 doctors per 100,000 according to recent figures from the Irish College of General Practitioners. The WHO recommends 100 GPs per 100,000. If trying to get a GP appointment within two weeks, a person would be very lucky to find one. Consider a new patient who is trying to register in a GP practice in County Meath. There is very little chance. It is nearly impossible.”
“In fact, on many a holiday with my father-in-law, he has come along with his little bag and his net, and has discovered new species of fly to the world in places like Portugal and Lanzarote. So, as part of biodiversity week, I would like to acknowledge my father-in-law, Dr. Declan Murray, who at a ripe old age - let us just say that he is in his 80s - continues to play a pivotal and vital role in biodiversity in Ireland.”
“As it is biodiversity week, I acknowledge my father-in-law, Dr. Declan Murray, who is an emeritus associate professor of zoology with the school of biology and environmental science of UCD. Declan researched, and continues to research, the systematic taxonomy, ecology and distribution of chironomid. Did my fellow Senators know that an Irish man - a Meath man, my father-in-law - through his studies discovered multiple new species of chironomid, which are non-biting midges, to the world of science? Who knew that studying flies was going to be so important to biodiversity in Ireland? Chironomids are often used to determine the health of streams because of the diversity of the different water cultures they can tolerate. They play important roles in aquatic ecosystems, biomonitoring and conservation due to their ecological diversity.”
“Biodiversity is one of the most important and vital issues that we as a global community can tackle to improve our planet for future generations. From the breakdown of our waste to the pollination of the most delicate flower to the production of all our food sources, our biosystem has the final say on the direction our planet will take. Clever design and thought-out plans around our towns can contribute to biodiversity in a positive way, as opposed to placing token flower beds or the odd tree in parking spaces around town. Yesterday, I attended the bio-economy forum in Enfield, County Meath, and it was an eye-opener. I picked up this book called Back to the Future with Beo and Raja . It is a very good way of explaining biodiversity to early learners in a fun way. I highly recommend it.”
“We will not get to do all that unless people submit what it is they want. I have spoken in the House about the importance of insurance reform and that the programme for Government keeps on track, ensuring insurance can be secured by businesses, community groups, sports clubs, cafés, restaurants, festivals and even thatched houses, which were mentioned here a few weeks ago by a Senator colleague. Over the past few years we have witnessed an excellent programme of insurance reform. If we want to see this continue, I urge people to submit their feedback and outline what they would like to see happen because the closing date is next Monday.”
“The Department of Finance is inviting people to submit their views on the development of a new action plan for insurance reform. In case people do not know, this is very important. This consultation aims to give and gathers feedback from stakeholders to shape the next phase of insurance reform. The Action Plan for Insurance Reform 2020 delivered good progress in stabilising the insurance market, improving competition and addressing key regulatory issues. However, many issues remain. We see it every day when young people try to get car insurance, and when older people, businesses and festivals seek insurance. The Government is committed to further reforms that will ensure fairer pricing, enhance competition and provide a more sustainable insurance market for consumers, businesses and insurers alike.”
“When I meet volunteers, it never ceases to amaze me how they give up their time in an unpaid role to help people. In our political roles, we see that more than ever. I believe we need to give volunteers respect and encouragement. This morning I met members of the Meath Befriending Service who visit people who live on their own and feel isolated. They call to 45 people, which is an incredible number. Last week, I met representatives of Navan Meals on Wheels. These volunteers use their cars to deliver meals to 70 homes every day. I want to thank these volunteers and ask them to let us know if there is anything we can do to help them. I thank volunteers for all the work they do on a daily basis.”
“On behalf of my Fine Gael colleagues in the Seanad, I congratulate Pope Leo XIV. This has been a significant moment. We send him our heartfelt congratulations and we wish him well in his role. We hope he uses his voice for peace in an uncertain world. I am sure the Pope will do a lot of good for humanity and kindness. I would like to speak about volunteers who do this every day. Over the last week I have had the pleasure of meeting representatives of Navan Meals on Wheels, the Scurlogstown Haymaking Festival and the Meath Befriending Service. At the weekend the very popular Dunderry Fair took place on the same day that Meath played Louth in the Leinster final. It was a great match. I wish Louth massive congratulations. We could not have lost to a better team. Volunteers do so much work.”
“What we need most of all is for the recommendations of the Judicial Council regarding the proposed increase in awards to be sent to the relevant Oireachtas committee for considered debate. Policyholders deserve nothing less from us in this matter and we really need to consider them.”
“I thank the Minister of State. Some 96% of cases do not even get to court, so we are talking about 4% of all cases. It has been suggested in some quarters that the 2019 legislation provided for the Judicial Council to review the guidelines, that it has now done this and we must accept its recommendation. Why? As the Minister of State mentioned, the Supreme Court made clear in the Delaney case that any changes to awards had to have the ultimate approval of the Oireachtas. For this approval to be meaningful, it has to be freely given. It is hard to see how the separation of powers concerns are addressed if Oireachtas consent is merely a rubber-stamping exercise and not meaningful consideration and assent by this Legislature. I submit that we need clarity from the Minister on this issue before going any further.”
“I respectfully appreciate that he has a very difficult job to do in this regard but I recommend that, as a matter of urgency, the issue be assigned to the relevant Oireachtas committee so that it can be thoughtfully considered in an open forum and with proper public debate on the appropriate path forward. If we continually review upwards personal injury awards every three years, not only will awards increase but legal fees will, too. In our programme for Government, the Government committed to further action to drive down insurance costs that impact households, motorists and businesses. This is our first test. I urge the Minister not to let his local running club, café, crèche, play centre or festival suffer and to pause the increase in personal injury awards.”
“In other words, such is still the difficulty of getting insurance that the play centres we all know in our constituencies would more than likely not be there if it was not for group insurance schemes. In recent years, we witnessed an excellent programme of insurance reform delivered by the previous Government, but before we can even reap the great results of it, we are already planning to increase the awards. The Oireachtas is required to consider and approve the proposals of the Judicial Council. The proposals are on the desk of the Minister of State's colleague, the Minister, Jim O'Callaghan.”
“The previous Government did all it could to get claims processed through it. Legal costs are already a substantial problem and will only increase if this proposal is adopted. Right now, businesses are faced with a myriad of increased costs and we simply cannot add more fuel to the fire by doing something that will drive premiums up. I previously mentioned that I am one of the people impacted. My husband and I run a leisure business where so many kids leave with smiles on their faces. The guidelines will ensure that any type of activity where people have fun - playing sport, enjoying a festival or going to a restaurant - will find it even more difficult to get insurance. Does the Minister of State know that the only reason play centres in Ireland have insurance is because we have a group insurance scheme?”
“Compare this to the nearly 170,000 children enrolled in the years 2020 and 2021. The Minister of State should not get me wrong: our awards are still higher than those in many other countries but, as can be seen, it was a pivotal moment and was instrumental in reducing premiums. If we fast-forward to now, only three years after the introduction of the guidelines, the guidelines committee has made the recommendation that the awards go up by 16.7%. The suggested increases by the committee cannot be allowed to happen. We do not want to see insurance for cars, cafés, community groups, charities, football clubs and golf clubs rise. I guarantee that if we allow the personal injury guidelines to go up, that is exactly what will happen. Such increases would also impede the work of the Injuries Resolution Board.”
“Our awards were sometimes 100% higher. Compared to our neighbours in England, our awards were 440% higher on average. There is no doubt that we needed the guidelines. This meant insurance companies paid out more, and people were more likely to claim for small injuries prior to the change. We implemented the guidelines, which reduced awards. We saw a 40% reduction in claims volumes for personal injuries sustained by visitors to businesses and in public spaces between 2019 and 2023. Claims in cafés, hotels and restaurants have more than halved. Shops and stores have seen a 44% decrease and sporting and athletics areas have seen a 38% reduction in claims. In childcare settings, a sector that has historically reported high insurance costs, only 256 personal injury claims were identified over five years.”
“I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House. I hope that he and the Minister, Jim O'Callaghan, hear what I have to say. Yesterday, the Central Bank showed that motor insurance premiums increased by 9% in the first half of last year. No doubt in the next six months we will learn they have risen again. In December 2024, the Personal Injuries Guidelines Committee recommended that awards in personal injury cases be increased across the board by 16.7%. The introduction of the personal injury guidelines three years ago was one of the most impactful reforms made to insurance in decades and was a significant part of the previous Government's commitment to reducing premiums for us all, be it for a car, business, employer liability or sports club. The reason we did it is that we were total outliers compared to other countries.”
“The minimum wage for a 19-year-old is on average €12.15 per hour. If they work two weeks at Easter, two weeks at Christmas and eight weeks in the summer, it leaves them in a position where they can only work eight hours a day for the rest of the year. That means those who come to us can only do a Saturday or Sunday; they cannot do Saturday and Sunday. It does not make any sense. I ask that we increase to €12,000 the threshold for students working. This will allow them to work two days per week, or perhaps a couple of evenings, without it impacting their SUSI grant. Why are we not encouraging younger people into the workforce in a hybrid approach of working and studying and helping their parents with the costs of going into further education?”
“Known as holiday earnings, this deduction will apply to income earned during the Easter, summer and Christmas holidays. This does not make any sense. What about your weekend work? As an owner of a small business that hires many students - we have 25 employees - we see more and more staff, especially those in secondary school who are moving on to college, worried about working any more than one day a week, or even working a full day, as it will affect their chances of getting a SUSI grant. I like to think that each of us here in the Chamber, particularly in the Fine Gael Party, promote hard work and instil in our young people that getting up and going to work is a good thing to do. Because we have a very low threshold for SUSI, however, this stops people from working the hours they may choose to work.”
“I very much welcome this motion. Coming from a really hard-working family, there was no way I was going to get away with not getting out to work early, combined, of course, with my studies. I worked all through secondary school, taking a break in my leaving cert year, and I then went back out again throughout college. It was not a huge amount of work but it was one or two days, particularly at weekends. This was really helpful for living expenses, as I was away from home, and, of course, for the odd social night out, which is all part of college time. Presently, if your course is full time and you worked and studied last year, SUSI can deduct a portion of your income earned outside of term time to improve your rate of grant, and for this year it is €8,424.”
“Over recent years, we have witnessed an excellent programme of insurance reform delivered by the previous Government. Before we can even reap the great results of this, we are already planning to raise the level of injury awards. I am calling for the Minister to pause or stop the increase, allow this to be discussed with the Oireachtas committees, to speak to the policyholders and to listen to the Alliance for Insurance Reform. Do not let your local running club, local camogie club, local café, local crèche, local play centre and local festivals suffer because of this.”
“These suggested increases by the Judicial Council cannot be allowed to happen. I urge all my fellow Senators to convey to the Minister for Justice that we do not want to see the cost of insurance rising. We do not want to see insurance for our cars, business and football clubs rise. I absolutely guarantee that if we allow the personal injury guidelines to go up, that is exactly what will happen. Right now, businesses are faced with a myriad of increased costs. We simply cannot add more fuel to the fire by doing something that will drive premiums up. As it stands, there are still so many groups and businesses that still cannot either get insurance or get insurance at a fair price. I have first-hand experience of the stress of trying to source insurance. I nearly lost my business and 11 employees nearly lost their jobs all because of this.”