The Alliance for Insurance Reform has welcomed Government proposals to amend the Occupiers’ Liability Act 1995 in relation to the duty of care.
Eoin McCambridge, Managing Director of McCambridge’s of Galway and Director of the Alliance said, “The absolute duty of care often imposed on Irish businesses, voluntary and community groups, sports and cultural organisations and charities goes way beyond what is imposed in other jurisdictions and serves as a real impediment to any organisation dealing with the public. This draft legislation is long overdue.”
Peter Boland, Director of the Alliance said “The outline proposals to reform the duty of care legislation look balanced, fair, practical, and proportionate. We welcome them and look forward to seeing the detailed proposals.
“Speed is now of the essence in progressing to working legislation. The Government must be prepared for and resist trenchant opposition from personal injury lawyers, who are currently seeking to derail the new Judicial Guidelines with constitutional and other challenges. They will undoubtedly take the same approach to these proposals as they will not give up this gravy train easily.”
Tracy Sheridan, owner of Kidspace play centres in Rathfarnham and Rathcoole and director of the Alliance said “Of all the major challenges facing Ireland right now, insurance is the one that Government can fix quickest. But reforms are not moving fast enough, and policyholders cannot wait much longer for them to be put in place. Government has a golden opportunity to sort out the cost of insurance now and forever, but only if they get reforms such as the rebalancing of the duty of care done now, before the opportunity is lost.”