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O’ROURKE – FF BILL CRACKS DOWN ON INSURANCE FRAUD

Frank O’Rourke TD says a new Bill being brought forward by his party should lead to reduced insurance costs, as it will clamp down on fraudulent insurance claims

Fraudulent insurance claims have been a contributory factor in the rising insurance costs, which people in Kildare and across the country have been hit with in recent years

“The average premiums today are still €300 higher now than they were in 2014. Constituents regularly raise the high cost of motor and business insurances with me at my weekly clinics”  stated Deputy O’Rourke.

“Our Bill, the Civil Liability and Courts (Amendment) Bill 2018, is the latest measure from our party aimed at tackling spiralling insurance costs. I have raised the high cost of insurance with the Government on many occasions and have offered a number of proposals which the Government should have pursued. The Government has not given focus to this issue and it is affecting the cost of living for many people.”

“The majority of insurance claimants are genuine. However, there is an underlying issue with fraudulent claims, which is driving up the cost of insurance for motorists, businesses, community groups and individuals. We need to address this issue and our Bill is designed to make would-be false claimants think twice about making a claim. If passed, the Bill will direct a court to refer the matter to the Director of Public Prosecutions where a case is deemed to be a fraudulent action.”

“This proposal was captured in the report published by the Cost of Insurance Working Group earlier this year. Reducing insurance costs has been a key priority for me and our party, and we must make better progress in reducing the cost of insurance and bring rates more in line with EU norms rates,” concluded Deputy O’Rourke.

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O’ROURKE SAYS MORE FOCUS NEEDED ON COMPETITIVENESS

Frank O Rourke TD has again highlighted the fact that the rising cost of living is affecting our competitiveness and is now affecting our ability to attract Foreign Direct Investment

Frank commented, “As I have said before, Ireland is losing its competitiveness. Our cost of living expenses, including insurance, mortgage rates, rents and childcare, are the highest in the EU.”

“We have high motor and business insurance costs, and the Government progress on the implementation of the recommendations on the Motor Insurance Working Group has been slow to say the least.”

“We have the highest variable mortgage rates in the EU. This week we learned for example, that Permanent TSB’s Standard Variable Rate (SVR) of 4.5% for existing customers is ridiculously high. It is in stark contrast to the bank’s blended cost of funds of just 0.46%.”

“Exiting customers on a variable rate are paying €260 per month more that a new customer on a 2.95% fixed rate, with a mortgage of €300,000. This is a difference of €3000 per year.”

“The average standard variable rate for a mortgage in Ireland is currently 3.26%. This is nearly 1.5% higher than the average Eurozone rate which stands at 1.83%. Earlier this year, I called on the Government to press for the formation of a European Single Market for mortgages ”

“Day in day out, business owners and workers alike are crying out for action from the Government on the issue of the rising costs of living. If we had normal insurance and mortgage costs, there would be less wage inflation pressure and more money available for the local economy.”

“Ireland has fallen out of the Top 10 EU countries for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). This is a warning sign. Attracting FDI has been a key success factor in our economy with over 200,000 people employed directly or indirectly for these companies. Kildare is home to some of the most successful multinationals.

“In 2017, 37% of the State’s Corporate Tax receipts were paid by 10 companies. These 10 companies contributed €3.43 billion to the Exchequer and to the funding of much needed public services“

“Foreign Direct Investment has always had the core objective of creating jobs in this country. Sustainable taxes come from having quality, long term employment and a key component of this is to ensure that we are competitive,” concluded Deputy O’Rourkee, who has tabled a Parliamentary Question to the Minister for Business on what action the Government is taking to improve the country’s competitiveness.”

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O’ROURKE WELCOMES PROPOSED PARK AND RIDE AT CELBRIDGE

Frank O’Rourke TD has welcomed the inclusion of a proposed Park and Ride Bus Facility adjacent to Celbridge and Junction 5 on the M4 as part of the BusConnections proposal to make Bus Transport more attractive to commuters and launched by the National Transport Authority (NTA)

Deputy O’Rourke welcomed the news, having rasied the matter at a recent meeting with Dublin Bus.

“The National Transport Authority (NTA) outlined this proposal in its BusConnects Plans, which includes a suite of initiatives designed to transform bus services in the Dublin region.  A Park and Ride for Bus commuters in Celbridge is included as part of its proposals.” Continue reading “O’ROURKE WELCOMES PROPOSED PARK AND RIDE AT CELBRIDGE”

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O’ROURKE – GOVT NEEDS TO TACKLE INSURANCE COSTS

Deputy Frank O’Rourke has called on the Government to give greater priority to reducing the cost of insurance

Insurance costs in Ireland remain stubbornly high as the Government last week published its most recent report from the Cost of Insurance Working Group.

“My concern is that the elevated motor insurance costs that we now have, will become the norm. Since being elected, I have persistently raised the unacceptable rise in the cost of motor insurance.  I pressed the Government to partner with other EU countries to fight the rising costs, and to-date we have received a deafening silence.”

“The National Claims Information Database is one of the key recommendation of the working groups report.  The legislation to establish the database was supposed to be enacted by the end of 2017. Now it seems it will not be even introduced until the second half of 2018 and that time-frame is far from certain.”

“A mechanism to set up an anti-fraud unit within An Garda Síochána was to be approved by the third quarter of 2017.  This has yet to be achieved and no solid timeline has been put in place for the approval of such a mechanism, much less the establishment of a unit.”

“Motor insurance costs have been a major issue for drivers in Ireland over the past number of years and Fianna Fáil has been to the fore in pressing the government to take action. The lack of action in relation to the recommendations of the working group is unacceptable.”

“The message must go out to all, that we are determined to get fairer motor insurance premiums for Irish motorists. Many Kildare motorists continue to make contact with me in relation to their rising costs, and I am determined to keep a focus on this important issue for them.”

“High motor insurance premiums have not gone away. The government has shown no sign that it is on top of this issue, as many continue to face unsustainable high insurance premiums.  This is a direct threat to our competitiveness, and increases the cost of living, and must be addressed,” concluded Deputy O’Rourke.

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O’ROURKE WELCOMES ADDITIONAL 120 BUS SERVICE FOR CELBRIDGE

The new morning Bus Eireann 120  is providing an earlier service for Celbridge commuters. The new additional morning service on Route 120, commenced on Monday 27th of November last.

“Over the last number of months, I have made representations to Bus Eireann and the National Transport Authority to improve the service on the 120 Bus Eireann. This new service from Clane is providing an earlier morning departure from Celbridge into the City.”, stated Frank O’Rourke TD

“Previously, the first Bus Éireann service from Celbridge was 07:45hrs. This new service will operate via Celbridge at 07:20hrs. This new service also serves Straffan. It arrives into the city city at 8.10.”

“I welcome this news and I will campaign to have this service and other services, including Route 67, improved in the coming months. We need to increase the morning capacity of Route 67 outbound, as the number of passengers using the service between Celbridge and Maynooth increases. Route 67 provides a link for people living in Celbridge that are working or studying in Maynooth.” concluded Deputy O’Rourke.