Sir, – Can all those calling on the insurance industry to cover properties that have already been flooded please get out their dictionaries and look up the meaning of insurance? In no case will you find it to mean covering events that will assuredly happen.
Unless those who have a 100 per cent chance of a claim are willing to have a policy equal to their cover would an insurance company be capable of writing a valid policy. If those whose homes have been flooded are to be compensated, funds will have to be found elsewhere.– Yours, etc,
JOHN ROGERS,
Ballydorey,
Rathowen,
Co Westmeath.
Sir, – There is something surreal, or is it disingenuous, about the Government parties rushing to the media congratulating themselves on “robustly” challenging the insurance industry as to why they might not be extending insurance cover to areas such as Fermoy, Midleton and Clonmel where flood defences have proved themselves effective, while saying little or nothing about the unfortunate residents of Bandon, Enniscorthy and the Shannon environs who were lashed out of it in more ways than one by the recent storms and floodwaters.
If flood defences in certain areas are proven to be effective, why would the residents even need to buy flood insurance? And if the insurance industry were convinced by the flood defences, as the Government says it should be, then why would it refuse to insure the non-existent risk?
The Government parties deliberately confuse inputs with outcomes – as health spending proves conclusively – and seek scapegoats to deflect from their failings.
The alarming aspect is that so many go along with it. – Yours, etc,
MICHAEL ANDERSON,
Balgriffin,
Dublin 13.
Sir, – The enthusiastic stance of the Taoiseach and Government in publicly criticising home insurance providers is pure window-dressing.
Home insurance, like medical insurance and life assurance, is completely voluntary and is therefore largely out if reach of government interference.
However, if the Coalition wants us to think it is proactive in these matters, why doesn’t it try to control the providers of motor insurance, which has been made compulsory by government, and which is greatly in need of government intervention and control? – Yours, etc,
GARRY BURY,
Dalkey,
Co Dublin.
A chara, – The Taoiseach is starting to look like the “Grand Old Duke of York”. The insurance company’s bosses were all marched in and then they all marched back out again. Just like the bankers.
I’m not sure how much longer I can watch this pantomime. I think it is time for an election. – Is mise,
PAUL DORAN,
Clondalkin,
Dublin 22.
Sir, – Perhaps an elegant solution would be a guarantee from the Government to insurers that, in the event of the removable barriers not being in place, the insurers would indemnify the affected party with the right to recover the cost in full under subrogation from the relevant public authority. – Yours, etc,
CYRIL FORBES,
Sandymount,
Dublin 4.
A chara, – With each passing day we have more councillors and TDs calling for the dredging of the Shannon, while blaming the EU and various State agencies for the current flood conditions. I would like to remind them that it was politicians that accommodated housing development on floodplains, in tandem with a short-sighted flood protection strategy, that have created much of the present predicament. – Is mise,
R Ó BRIAIN,
Phibsborough,
Dublin 7.