FIRST aid responders who provide life-saving assistance to their communities should not have their insurance premiums hiked with 20 per cent loading.
The call for insurers to waive the sharp hike comes from Limerick’s Fianna Fail TD Niall Collins who said that the move is “mean spirited”.
Criticising motor insurance companies involved, Deputy Collins said, “It has now come to light that Aviva have started to apply a 20 per cent loading fee on motor insurance policies for volunteers in the Community First Responder Scheme.
“This is a very mean-spirited policy. Frankly, it’s deplorable, and demonstrates the dysfunction within the motor insurance industry.”
“Every year, nearly 5000 people die from cardiac arrest. Community First responders are often first on the scene, especially in rural counties such as Limerick, where ambulance wait times are often longer than the national average.”
“Aviva’s policy will, I’ve no doubt, put people off from getting involved in this life-saving initiative. Great strides have been made in reducing cardiac deaths in Ireland in recent years, and any move that inhibits the number of deaths dropping further should be opposed,” said Collins.
“After suffering a serious cardiac arrest, every minute is crucial. It’s a medical fact that a person’s chances of survival without medical aid will diminish with every passing minute. Community First Responders help save lives right across the country on a daily basis.”
Deputy Collins has immediately called on Aviva to amend their position.
“Community First Responders must abide by the rules of the road like everyone else, so I just can’t see the logic in Aviva’s actions. Along with my party colleagues, I will be pushing for Fianna Fáil to bring forward proposals to prevent unfair loading on motor premiums for first responder volunteers,” concluded the Limerick TD.
Aviva did not respond to media queries at the time of going to press.
