Duty of care legislation will be reformed to restrict the liability of occupiers, the government has announced. The proposed amendments to the Occupiers' Liability Act 1995 will be included in the Courts and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022 as part of the government's push to reduce in
Insurance
The High Court has determined that a hotel was not entitled to insurance cover for pandemic losses under an RSA policy of insurance. The policy required a notifiable disease to be “manifesting itself at the premises” for the policy to cover any losses. In a 94-page judgment, Mr Justice D
A ban on "price walking" in the Irish motor and home insurance markets will be brought into effect from July 2022, the Central Bank has announced. From 1 July, insurance providers will not be allowed to charge relevant renewing customers a premium that is higher than they would have charged an equiv
Partners at insurance law specialists BLM and Clyde & Co are set to vote on a possible merger which would create a combined firm with annual revenue of around £733 million (roughly €872 million). According to the Law Society Gazette in England and Wales, the firms – both of whic
Legislation to prevent an increase in motor insurance premiums in Northern Ireland has cleared Stormont and is expected to become law by May. The Motor Vehicles (Compulsory Insurance) Bill aims to ensure that domestic statutory provision on compulsory motor insurance, as contained in the 1981 Road T
The setting of a new personal injury discount rate (PIDR) for Northern Ireland could be jeopardised by the possible collapse of the Northern Ireland Assembly, an insurance law expert has warned. The Damages (Return on Investment) Bill, which introduces a statutory methodology for calculating the dis
Insurance company elipsLife, a subsidiary of Swiss Re, has appointed solicitor Fiona Moriarty as senior legal counsel for Ireland. Ms Moriarty, who is qualified in Ireland and in England and Wales, has 10 years' post-qualification experience in insurance and insurance litigation.
The High Court has ruled that FBD Insurance plc must pay publicans for losses arising from the early closures of premises which occurred from 10 August 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. In a 201-page judgment, Mr Justice Denis McDonald held that the early closing requirement was a government-impose
The High Court has issued a further ruling in the landmark FBD case, dealing with issues around quantum. The test cases brought by four pubs – The Leopardstown Inn, Sinnotts, Seán’s Bar, and Lemon and Duke – concern their business interruption insurance policies with FBD and
An Oireachtas committee will today begin pre-legislative scrutiny of a proposed bill aimed at enhancing transparency around the practice of insurers deducting government payments from Covid-related claims settlements. The Alliance for Insurance Reform and Insurance Ireland will be joined by Sean Fle
The Irish government should consider reviewing the flood insurance market to afford Irish home-owners the same high level of protection offered in the UK, insurance risk and commercial law firm BLM has said. A report from Gamma Location Intelligence found that almost 70,000 homes throughout Ireland
Legislation providing for a reduction in stamp duty levies on health insurance contracts has been published by the government. The Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2021 will reduce levies on advanced health insurance contracts to €406, a decrease of €43 compared to 2021, and on non-advanc
Insurance law specialists BLM and Clyde & Co are reportedly discussing a possible merger which would create a combined firm with annual revenue of £735 million. The firm recently entered "early-stage talks" and the details are "being kept tight by the pair's senior leadership teams", accor
Motor insurance premiums fell by seven per cent last year in the last full year before the introduction of new personal injury guidelines, according to new figures. The Central Bank's third National Claims Information Database (NCID) report on private motor insurance reveals that the average earned
A new bill will aim to "enhance transparency" around the practice of insurers deducting government payments from Covid-related claims settlements. The Department of Finance has begun drafting the Insurance (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill, which will address insurance-related issues that have arisen