Before reading this you should have all the background and read my previous blog. If you do wish to respond, and I actively encourage it, please be polite and considerate - I'm a sesitive soul.
We shouldn’t draw any conclusions from the Margaret’s silence on my question but we can see clearly from Nigel’s post he hasn’t had any problems with state bodies and hotels.
With regard to the local authorities I have written to the Department of the Environment to seek clarification of their requirements for local authorities and await their response. It is hard to get a definitive answer from anyone but as the Department are responsible for all local authorities they should give some clarity to this confused area.
As Nigel has written much better than I could I am not going to rehash his points again. I would, however, like to make a number of observations and pose a number of questions:-
- By setting a defined level of cover for Public Liability insurance the IPPA has helped to promote the high levels of litigation in Ireland. Why couldn’t the IPPA simply ask members to have PL cover and allow them be advised by their respective brokers.
- Is making insurance a major selling point of the association a good idea? It is important but it shouldn’t be our unique selling point. What should our letter head say - “Come on sue me – I’ve got the cover.”
- Have the IPPA ever looked for tenders from brokers other then O’Brien Finlay when looking for deals for their members. Times have changed and with the entrance of many companies into the market place, Quinn Direct, Eagle Star, Norwich Union etc we should be reviewing our arrangements on a regular basis. If, yes, please supply full details of how this tender process was under taken, when it was undertaken, who was approached and when is it up for review again?
- If not, why not?
- Who are the members of the review committee and how are they appointed? When was their last report published on the IPPA internet for members to read.
While some may accuse me of washing IPPA dirty laundry in public I see this as an industry wide issue. The IPPA have set a precedent with this mandatory cover requirement and all professional photographers should be aware of the implications. Also the IPPA have no forum for addressing these issues as they arise and to date have not facilitated "a right to reply" on issues. A letter to the secretary re Public Liability was responded to with the answer “It is council policy”.
Thanks
Alan Murphy
looking at the items on the blog and on forum, which is about the ippa, it is easy to conclude that the policy of the ippa is say nothing and the problem will go away. I believe the committee has not a pair of balls between them.
Posted by: rob | March 30, 2007 at 11:57 PM
Don't think your comment adds much Rob.
Posted by: Alan M | April 01, 2007 at 04:56 AM
This debate has also been taking place on other boards - check it out:
http://www.photographyireland.net/viewtopic.php?t=5067.
One thing and increase from 3.5 mill to 6.5 ml will result in a premium increase of 300 - otherwise you were being overcharged in the first place.
Posted by: Alan Murphy | April 06, 2007 at 11:34 AM
Podge Kelly, photographer, has been working with an Ins Broker to try and get a something in place for Irish photographers and there is one now up and running. It has Pi and Pl insurance for the photographer, you can take either or both. Give them a call.
Europlan Insurance, 11 St Stephens Green.
01 6774066 or 01 6774061
Ask for Therese or Moya and they will get your quote.
Restricted to members of SWPP (I think)
More details in the pro forum
http://www.irishphotographers.ie/forum/viewtopic.php?p=189#189
Posted by: Alan Murphy | May 26, 2007 at 11:56 AM