Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 18 December 2025
397. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the key measures taken under the remit of his Department to control insurance costs during 2025; his priorities for 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [73554/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraResponsibility for policy on insurance matters lies with the Department of Finance and my colleague Minister Troy, in his capacity as Minister of State with special responsibility for Financial Services, Credit Unions and Insurance. My Department has responsibility for personal injuries policy, governance and oversight of the Injuries Resolution Board and the legislation underpinning it.
The Action Plan for Insurance Reform 2025-2029 ‘A Stronger Market, a Fairer Market’ published on 24 July this year, takes an all-of-Government approach to reform in the insurance sector and I am working closely with colleagues across Government on the implementation of the Plan.
The Action Plan contains 26 actions across a range of Departments which aim to increase insurance affordability, transparency and availability. My own Department and its agencies are leading on 11 of the actions. The Action Plan is available on the gov.ie portal.
On 16 October this year, I published the independent report, ‘Review of Compensation of Minor Soft Tissue Injuries in Ireland and the UK’, which examines compensation awards for minor soft-tissue injuries between the jurisdictions in line with priority Action 4 ‘to provide necessary and relevant information to support a review of the Personal Injuries Guidelines'.
Undertaken by the Injuries Resolution Board and Deloitte, the report provides evidence that Ireland’s award levels for these categories of injuries remain significantly higher than that in England and Wales.
Priority Action 9 includes a commitment to bring stakeholders and enterprise fora together on issues relating to the availability and affordability of insurance. I established the Cost of Business Advisory Forum under the remit of my Department this year with the objectives of reducing the costs of running a business and addressing delays which can impact operations.
On 22 September, the Forum hosted a dedicated session on Insurance, attended by representatives of business and the insurance sector, along with Departmental Officials and the Injuries Resolution Board. The Forum will be undertaking further thematic sessions and will report on its work in the new year.
I have engaged with the Minister for Justice, Migration and Home Affairs to address concerns raised by business relating to the review process for the Personal Injuries Guidelines as provided for under priority Action 21.
I very much welcome the Government decision to approve a draft general scheme of a Bill to amend the Judicial Council Act 2019 to make future reviews of the Guidelines more comprehensive and transparent. Officials of my Department are working closely with the Department of Justice on the development of the Bill.
I also published the Action Plan on Competitiveness and Productivity in September which outlines 85 actions to enhance Ireland’s economy, with 26 priority measures and which highlights the importance of the delivery of the Action Plan on Insurance Reform.
The Injuries Resolution Board, an Agency of my Department, has since its establishment delivered major benefits for Ireland. In the period 2019 to 2024, there has been a substantial reduction in both the cost and volume of injury claims, down 39% and 33% respectively.
In 2024 alone, €76 million was saved through the work of the Injures Resolution Board from the avoided legal costs associated with litigation, with a similar figure expected in respect of 2025.
Looking to 2026, a key component of the Action Plan on Insurance Reform for my Department will be further strengthening of the Injuries Resolution Board. To that end, the Action Plan will see the Injuries Resolution Board undertake research on the non-acceptance of its awards to inform policy to maximise the number of claims it resolves, thereby reducing the number of claims entering the costly and time-consuming litigation process.
Both Minister Smyth and I will continue to attend meetings of the Cabinet Committee Subgroup on Insurance Reform to drive progress on the Action Plan for Insurance Reform, working on behalf of business and consumers to drive the insurance reform agenda taking account of the wider issue of competitiveness and impacts on our economy.
