News

Marshmallow and chocolate thief ‘was disgusted with himself’ (via Independent.ie)

By Andrew Phelan, 4th April 2022

A man who shoplifted marshmallows and chocolate was “disgusted with himself” over the theft, a court heard.

Michael Collins (34), who was “absolutely mortified”, went on to miss a court date when he “put his head in the sand”.

Judge Treasa Kelly applied the Probation Act, leaving him without convictions after he made a €150 donation to the Ukraine Red Cross appeal.

Collins, of Cara Park, Coolock, pleaded guilty to theft. He also admitted failing to appear in court.

Dublin District Court heard the accused went to Circle K in Artane on October 6 last year and stole a quantity of sweets worth €23.

To read the full story please visit:

https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/marshmallow-and-chocolate-thief-was-disgusted-with-himself-41518302.html

Call for super tax on insurers who are accused of turning Ireland into ‘treasure island’ (via Independent.ie)

By Charlie Weston

Insurance companies have been accused of turning Ireland into “treasure island” with claims they are on course to make super-profits this year.

The Alliance for Insurance Reform called on the Government to do more to boost competition in the market.

And the chairman of the Consumers’ Association of Ireland, Michael Kilcoyne, said it might be time to consider a super tax on insurers after two of them raked in profits of €150m between them.

FBD reported higher-than-expected profits before tax of €110m for last year and said it would pay a dividend worth €35.3m to its investors.

Aviva saw its profits for homes and motor cover rise by 34pc to €43m last year.

It said it had reduced premiums in line with the new personal injury guidelines agreed by judges, with expected lower costs for minor injury claims.

This week Tánaiste Leo Varadkar said the average awards for personal injuries had fallen by 50pc since revised guidelines on the calculation of the awards were introduced.

To read the full story please visit:
https://www.independent.ie/business/personal-finance/insurance/call-for-super-tax-on-insurers-who-are-accused-of-turning-ireland-into-treasure-island-41413905.html

New law to allow Irish consumers to bring class actions in High Court (via Irish Legal News)

Irish consumers will be able to bring collective claims to the High Court under new legislation announced by ministers yesterday.

The legislation will transpose into Irish law a proposed new EU directive aimed at facilitating coordination and effective action from national consumer authorities at EU level and reinforcing public enforcement action and better protection of consumer rights.

The new mechanism has been dubbed the “European class action” and will allow designated qualified entities to take enforcement action in the Irish courts on behalf of a group of consumers whose rights have been breached either in Ireland or in another EU country.

However, the government rejected comparisons with the US class action model, highlighting that only not-for-profit organisations will be able to apply for designation as qualified entities and thus be able to use the procedural mechanism for representative actions.

To Read the Full Story Please Visit:
https://www.irishlegal.com/articles/new-law-to-allow-irish-consumers-to-bring-class-actions-in-high-court