Reform body defends workplace safety record

The Alliance for Insurance Reform (AIR), has defended Ireland's workplace safety record.

AIR was responding to the statement from Hibernian Insurance regarding workplace safety.

AIR said they refute Hibernian MD Dick O'Driscoll's comments that Irish work safety records were at the bottom of the list compared to other EU countries.

"According to the Joint Employment Report (JER) 2002, a communication from the Commission of the European Communities to the Council, using Eurostat figures as reference, Ireland has the lowest rate of workplace injury in the EU," the group commented.

AIR also said that according to June figures from the Health & Safety Authority, serious injuries in Irish workplaces since 1998 have decreased by 14%.

Gerry McCaughey, director of AIR said that insurance companies were being disingenuous in their arguments and have no intention of reducing premiums to previous, un-inflated levels.

"Insurance premium hikes are crushing Irish business and blunting our competitiveness, and I call for the insurance companies to take responsibility where it is due and start delivering reduced premiums immediately," he said.