High insurance for hauliers forcing them out of business says Laois man
Ger Hyland who is President of the Irish Road Haulage Association said hauliers feel helpless as motor, employer liability and public liability insurance costs continue to rise.
THE HEAD of the Irish Road Haulage Association (IRHA), Laois man Ger Hyland says that insurance costs are crippling rural Ireland.
Mr Hyland who operates his business - Hyland Transport - out of Rosenallis has called for urgent Government action to tackle spiralling insurance costs, warning that soaring premiums are forcing small businesses across rural Ireland to shut down.
Mr Hyland said hauliers feel helpless as motor, employer liability and public liability insurance costs continue to rise.
His comments came as the association submitted proposals to the Department of Finance as part of the new Insurance Action Plan 2025–2029 consultation.
In their submission, hauliers told government that insurance, in particular employer liability and public liability insurance, are threatening the viability of small businesses across Ireland.
Mr Hyland was critical of how too many cases are being settled through the court system rather than through the Injuries Resolution Board (IRB).
The IRHA have also called on government to introduce a robust independent oversight mechanism to monitor the financial performance of insurance companies to ensure that they are passing on savings from reforms to policy holders.
The IRHA have accused the insurance industry of not passing on savings that government reforms of the last number of years are delivering for them.
According to Mr Hyland who is the President of the IRHA: “Some independent entity needs to interrogate the operations of the insurance companies to ensure that they are working for the greater good and not just serving their own interests by keeping costs, and premiums, high.” He said that insurers are far too willing to go for the easy option and agree a settlement with a claimant at a discount rather than fighting dubious cases in the courts."
“Insurers should be compelled to have proper and meaningful regard to the interests of policyholders when deciding if they will fight or settle a case. They need to examine the increased cost to the policy holder of their insurance renewal as well as the precedent that settling questionable claims might create in the workplace,” said Mr Hyland.
