Motor insurers dispute liability

A seven-judge Supreme Court is hearing the Motor Insurers’ Bureau of Ireland’s appeal against decisions that it is potentially liable for claims brought against collapsed insurer Setanta.

Because all motor insurers operating here must be members of the MIBI, the decisions by the High Court and Court of Appeal effectively mean all insurers entering the Irish market must undertake an “enormous potential liability”, Paul Gallagher SC, for the MIBI, said.

“That cannot be correct,” he added.