Sinn Féin local election candidate for the Killarney area, John Buckley has backed his party’s call on the Minister for Finance to provive clarity around the situation with Setanta Insurance where some 75,000 policy holders, including many small business owners and van drivers, are at risk of driving without insurance. John Buckley recently bought a policy with Setanta Insurance.
“The collapse of Setanta Insurance has brought with it a number of issues which need urgent clarification,” said Mr. Buckley.
Driving Without Insurance
“A large number of people, including myself, only recently bought insurance with Setanta through local brokers. We are now left in a situation where we are being told to seek urgent alternative insurance. Consequently some 75,000 policyholders are at risk of driving without insurance.
“Many of Setanta’s policy holders are small business owners and van drivers who are already under serious pressure to keep their business afloat. Additional insurance costs will only increase the pressure that they are under.
Proposed Investigation
“I welcome the proposed investigation into the collapse of the company to be carried out by the EU commission; however we need answers on this today.
“We need clarity on this situation urgently. My colleague Pearse Doherty TD has asked a number of questions of the Minister for Finance, namely around how he intends to ensure a smooth transition for Setanta customers, but also around the need for a review of the regulatory environment to ensure another insurance company does not collapse as happened with Setanta leaving 75,000 policy holders without a policy. We await Minister Noonan’s answers to these questions with interest,” he said.
