More clarity needed on plans for HPV catch-up scheme for under-25s, says Roderic O'Gorman
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RTÉ News
an hour ago
- RTÉ News
Government launches plan to bring down insurance costs
Improving pricing transparency and giving the Injuries Resolution Board (IRB) more powers are among the main measures outlined by the Government to bring down insurance costs in the latest action plan on insurance reform. The plan, launched today, runs until 2029 and contains a total of 26 actions to bring down insurance costs, ten of which are described as 'priority actions'. They include a focus on transparency in the insurance sector, particularly in terms of pricing. As part of this, the Department of Finance will work with insurers to introduce a transparency code. Other priority actions include strengthening the powers of the IRB, a feasibility study on a cap for certain categories of personal injuries awards, exploring tougher penalties on insurance fraud and measures to reduce the number of uninsured drivers. The Government says it aims to tackle the reliance on litigation, particularly for motor insurance claims and that this will be an important element of the proposed IRB reforms. According to recent figures from the Central Bank's National Claims Information Database (NCID) on settled private motor claims, it is 22 times more expensive for a claimant to take a claim through litigation rather than through the board. Meanwhile, the NCID found the timeframe for settled claims through litigation is significantly longer than those settled through the IRB, with the level of awards not being materially higher. Enhancing the Office to Promote Competition in the Insurance Market as well as streamlining the authorisation process for new market entrants will also be a key focus of the plan. These priority actions are viewed as the ones that will have the biggest impact on insurance affordability, transparency and availability. According to official figures, comprehensive cover now accounts for over 90% of motor policies, and with a rise in repair costs more consumers are now less inclined to protect their no claims bonus and more likely to claim on their insurance, which impacts overall premiums. As part of the development of the action plan, the Department of Finance held a public consultation process that received over 70 submissions from private businesses, political parties, representative bodies and members of the public. The last action plan on insurance was published in 2020 and led to initiatives such as rebalancing of the duty of care and the personal injuries guidelines, which have helped to bring down the value of claims. The action plan was launched by Minister of State for Insurance Robert Troy, and Minister for Enterprise Peter Burke. Minister Troy said that "despite progress on insurance costs in recent years as a result of the Government's previous action plan on insurance reform, an inflationary global climate has led to some costs creeping up again". He added that "it is vital that consumers are seeing greater transparency from the insurance sector, particularly in regard to how their premium is communicated to them". The implementation of the action plan will be led by Minister Troy through the Department of Finance and monitored by the Cabinet Sub-Group on Insurance Reform, which is chaired by Tánaiste Simon Harris. Mr Harris said the Government's latest plan "builds on the strong insurance reforms to-date which have led to improvements in transparency and have seen personal injury awards reduce". "By Government working together, we can deliver tangible progress in this next phase of insurance reform so that the benefits are felt by both businesses and consumers," he added. Prior to publication of the action plan, the Cabinet Sub-Group on Insurance Reform agreed to not seek approval from the Dáil and Seanad on an increase in personal injuries awards, as recommended by the Judicial Council. This was a move welcomed by both insurers and consumer groups, who had warned it would have driven up premium costs.
Irish Examiner
an hour ago
- Irish Examiner
Michael O'Leary criticised for ‘drive-by commentary' on Dublin metro
Ryanair chief executive Michael O'Leary has been criticised for his 'insulting' comments on a metro for Dublin, which he called a 'waste' of taxpayer money. The 18.8km rail line, most of which will be underground, is to run from north of Swords to Charlemont in the south of Dublin city centre. Various metro projects for the capital have been proposed in recent decades but none have proceeded to build stage. On Tuesday, the Government announced that the MetroLink project would get a €2bn boost in funding as part of the national development plan, in what Taoiseach Micheál Martin said was 'a very definitive commitment to the metro'. This Government wasted €330,000 on a bike shed, imagine what they do with an 18-kilometre underground train from an airport? While Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe indicated the latest estimated cost for the MetroLink was €11bn, Mr O'Leary claimed it would cost €20bn, 'so about a billion a kilometre'. 'Dublin Airport doesn't need it, Dublin Airport passengers won't use it – they're already well-served by buses,' he told RTÉ Radio on Wednesday, while claiming that less than a third of the airport's passengers use buses. He said that while the tube in London runs from Heathrow and through 'all of London', the Metro will only serve a section of Dublin city's residents – around 100,000 people, he claimed. 'Here's the madness of this. This thing is going to start at Stephen's Green in the morning. If you want to get to our first wave of departures, which leave at about 6.30 in the morning, you need to be at the airport at 5.30am. 'Are you seriously going to drive into the centre of Stephen's Green, where there's no car parking, to get this metro to get to Dublin Airport for 5.30 in the morning? No, you're not. 'Let me give you the alternative scenario: for €100m, this year we could buy 400 buses, and 400 buses would provide exactly the same capacity as this metro from Dublin Airport, in through Ballymun, in through Drumcondra, on bus lanes that already exist.' He claimed the plan had not been properly costed and hit out at the Government's handling of public finances. 'This Government wasted €330,000 on a bike shed, imagine what they do with an 18-kilometre underground train from an airport?' Micheal Martin announced two billion euro funding for the metro project (Phil Noble/PA) He also criticised comments by Mr Martin, who said the Irish capital will not be sustainable without a metro. 'Does he not understand that the buses actually will all be electrified by the end of this decade, which will actually be greener than light rail?' Labour TD Duncan Smith said Mr O'Leary's criticisms of public infrastructure were as sure 'as night follows day'. 'Dubliners are stuck in daily gridlock. MetroLink is their best chance at affordable, reliable transport that serves communities, not corporate profits. 'As a consistent advocate for MetroLink in Swords, I find it insulting to hear this kind of drive-by commentary from someone who clearly doesn't rely on public transport to get to work. 'Dublin deserves better than a transport plan from a billionaire whose only experience with buses is when he is pretending to be one.' When asked about his endorsement of Enterprise Minister Peter Burke and junior minister Robert Troy during the general election campaign, Mr O'Leary claimed 'they're not in government' and criticised Mr Martin again. 'I endorsed Peter Burke, who actually topped the poll despite the criticism. I also endorsed Robert Troy – and they're not the government.' Read More Ryanair chief cites lower costs after moving aircraft from Cork Airport to Shannon
Irish Times
2 hours ago
- Irish Times
Government likely to delay VAT reduction for hospitality sector until mid-2026
The Government is likely to delay the VAT cut for the hospitality industry until the middle of next year, creating more room for tax cuts in Budget 2026. It is also possible that the lower VAT rate of 9 per cent will be extended only to hospitality – ie, food and drink in bars, restaurants and hotels – and not to accommodation. The tax strategy papers due to be published today, which inform the budget process now under way within Government, are expected to say that such a separation would be complicated, but not impossible. [ 'Economic vandalism': Unions condemn plan to cut VAT for hospitality sector Opens in new window ] Senior political sources involved in discussions on the issue stressed that it would be possible, if complex. READ MORE Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe said at the launch of the Government's summer economic statement on Tuesday that the full-year cost for the VAT cut would be almost €1 billion – which would take up to two-thirds of the available resources for tax cuts in the budget. However, three senior sources, all with knowledge of the discussions at the top level of Government on the issue, confirmed that they expect that the VAT cut for hospitality would be introduced in mid-year, possibly on July 1st. This would dramatically cut the cost of the move for next year, creating room for other tax cuts in the budget. Current modelling suggests that the full year cost of reducing VAT to 9 per cent for hospitality and hairdressers would come to €715 million. New Central Statistics Office data out next week may drag that estimate up further, however. Will the Government's big projects survive the next downturn? Listen | 36:20 Sources indicated that an introduction halfway through the year would bring the cost down to roughly half that figure, although that could move marginally up or down due to seasonal factors. The programme for government promises measures to support small to medium-sized enterprises, in particular those in the retail and hospitality sector. It emphasises this will 'entail changes to VAT, PRSI and other measures' as part of the budget process, but does not detail specific commitments. The Department of Finance has long-harboured a deep ambivalence about the benefits of such a measure. A previous cut was reversed in 2023 and there was intensive but unsuccessful lobbying from the sector to secure another reduction in last year's budget. Tax strategy group papers from last year noted the inherent difficulties in applying different rates to the industry – namely, that the higher rate would apply to all accommodation operators, including small B&Bs and hotels, as well as 'significant practical operational concerns' including those relating to packages ranging from bed and breakfast accommodation through to all-inclusive deals. Officials last year warned these could combine to lead to underpayment of VAT and additional complexity for Revenue and taxpayers, as well as increased risk of avoidance and scope for manipulation. On Wednesday, Fianna Fáil Minister of State for Justice Niall Collins stated a personal belief that a universal VAT reduction for hospitality is 'not merited', arguing on Limerick's Live95 radio station that there was 'little to no evidence' that a previous temporary reduction was passed on to consumers. [ Does the hospitality sector really need a VAT cut? Opens in new window ] Trade unions also criticised the move, describing the suggestion that tax cuts worth up to €1 billion could be granted to hospitality as 'economic vandalism'. They also argued that the facts about the hospitality sector do not justify tax cuts, saying the sector is now growing. It comes as the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council said the Government's ongoing spending overruns amount to 'poor planning and budgeting'. It follows the summer economic statement showing that planned expenditure for this year is now expected to amount to €108.7 billion, €3.3 billion more than set out in Budget 2025. Some €90.5 billion was allocated in the budget to current expenditure, or the cost of delivering public services, and €14.9 billion to capital expenditure. Both have since increased.
