*Setanta Insurance debacle shows regulation is not good enough – Feeley* Over 70,000 Irish insurance policy holders have had to find alternative insurance as a result of advice from the Central Bank following the closure of Setanta Insurance in Ireland. ‘I welcome the fact that the EU Commissioner for Internal Market and Services, Michel Barnier that the European Commission will investigate the closure of Setanta Insurance in Ireland. It is vital that those who paid their insurance premium in the normal manner should not now be left at a loss as a result of the liquidation.’ While based in Dublin, Setanta Insurance is licensed in Malta and regulated by the Maltese Financial Services Authority. In the aftermath of the economic and financial crisis, the EU institutions established the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority to oversee the supervision of the insurance sector in Europe. ‘It is clear that despite a supposed new EU regime the regulation of this sector remains inadequate. We in this region are all too well aware to the zealous nature of some regulators but it now seems very clear that Insurance companies in this region and country are operating to a higher standard to those that they are competing against. That is fundamentally unfair. Concluding Councilor Feeley called for assurance from Government that policy holders would be at no loss and that a level playing field would be put in place for all insurance providers. ENDS
Category Archives: Press Releases
AEOS 3 payments to farmers remain in limbo – Feeley
AEOS 3 payments remain in limbo Cavan County Councillor, John Paul Feeley has called from the Minister for Agriculture, Simon Coveney TD to intervene to release payments due to farmers under the AEOS 3 for 2013 as a matter or urgency. ‘Farmers, particularly smaller farmers are highly dependent on these payments. Promises were made that part payments would issue at the end of 2013 and subsequently in that all payments would be made in the first quarter of this year and then before Easter. It seems the Department are always able to change the goal-posts but the farm family does not have the same luxury with their banks and suppliers.’ Under the EU Regulations governing all area-based payment schemes, a comprehensive administrative check of all applications, including cross-checks with Land Parcel Identification System must be completed before any payments can issue. ‘The reality is that these applications have been with the Department for some time. Many farmers have contacted me about the financial stress they are now under as a result of these delays. It appears that all payments are held up to all the Department time to address queries with a small few and this is unacceptable. Minister Coveney needs to intervene urgently to clarify what the real cause of the delay is and set out clearly when payments will be made.’ ENDS
Government must clarify Water Charges – Feeley
Fianna Fáil Councillor, John Paul Feeley has called on the Government to clarify the level of water charges that families will face in the coming year in the light of a Sunday Business Post (April 20, 2014) story suggesting that the annual charges could increase to over € 600. ‘At present Irish Water will receive a subsidy from Government of about € 537 million per annum with the remainder of its’ € 1.1 billion budget coming from domestic and commercial water rates. The Government has made it clear that the annual subsidy, much of this years already fritted away on consultants will only be in place short-term and thereafter that Irish Water will rely entirely on the money collected from families and business.’ Whilst Minister Hogan has confirmed that no final decision has been made on when the state subsidy will end he and others in Government have emphasised that Irish Water is a stand-alone organisation that will have to secure funding on the open market rather than from the State. ‘There are many issues that must be clarified urgently including how long the subsidy will be in place, what the actual rate of payment will be, what, if any regard will be given to those on low incomes, what volume of water will be included in the standing charge and what regard will be had to the contributions made by member of Group Water Schemes to the up-grade of their own Schemes in recent years. Government seem happy to allow confusion to reign but the public are entitled to clarity and deserve it now.’
Waiting Lists Grow as Operating Theatres lie idle
Waiting Lists Grow as Operating Theatres lie idle Fianna Fáil Councillor, John Paul Feeley has called for urgent action to deal with growing waiting lists as hospital operating theatres lie idle. ‘In recent days, I have received a reply from one of the Consultants in Cappagh National Orthopaedic Hospital confirming that of the seven theatres in Cappagh Hospital only three are in use and at that only for half dayson each of the five working days of the week. Essentially over half the hospital is sitting idle while those awaiting orthopaedic care are suffering in pain.’ The Consultant confirmed to Councillor Feeley that as a consequence of the cuts the waiting lists within the Hospital for both inpatients and outpatients is getting longer and longer. ‘It is clearly unacceptable that assets such as operating theatres, put in place at considerable cost to we the taxpayers are sitting idle whilst there are people in our communities waiting in agony for treatment. Government must act to address this situation urgently to allow the Consultants and the rest of their teams get on with their work.’