On Tuesday 16th of February the ISACS Director wrote to the Taoiseach, the Tanaiste, the Minister for Justice, the Minister for Finance and the Minister for Arts to address our concerns on the issue of insurance. ISACS has been lobbying continuously on the cost of insurance for the last seven years.
This Saturday 20th February 2021, the Judicial Council will make a critical decision, which will determine the future potential of the insurance industry in Ireland. They will decide on fair levels of awards for Personal Injury Compensation. This decision will decide if Ireland is a good place to do business as an Insurance Underwriter.
Why, you might ask, would a network of street and circus artists be so interested and active on this issue?
It is very simple.
Our sector has seen tremendous and unprecedented growth in the last ten years. This has led to a huge demand in the need for professional and dedicated training and educational centres in circus skills all around Ireland. Education and training grows the next generation of circus artists. We like this, we want this.
However, in 2017 the only remaining insurance provider in the country decided to pull out. This left an entire sector desperately trying to find insurance product, with nowhere to turn. Eventually one underwriter was found who would consider the sector, however there was a caveat…NO activities over 1.5 metres for anyone under the age of 18 years.
How do you train acrobatics, stilt walking, tight wire or aerial under 1.5 metres? Impossible.
We therefore implore the Judicial council to see the impact that high awards make on society, on competition and on access to fair and equitable insurance product for all. If a decision is taken by the Judicial Council this Saturday that does not address that, we urge our government to take decisive action for the benefit of all the citizens of Ireland and #DotheRightThing.
Read the full letter ISACS sent below:
Related Links:
- February 16th 2021: “The payouts need to be changed to reflect international norms and 50pc just doesn’t cut it – it’s not enough.” – Irish Independent
- February 5th 2021: He is calling for the council to have regard to the “common good in their deliberations and reduce awards for minor personal injuries by 80 per cent”: – The Irish Times