Aqua dome firm slams compo culture

TRALEE WATERWORLD HEAD CONDEMNS IRELAND’S ‘RAMPANT’ COMPENSATION SYSTEM

THE Chairman of the company that runs the Tralee Aqua Dome has launched a stinging attack on Ireland’s compensation culture.

In his report in Tralee Waterworld’s 2017 Annual Report, company Chairman Denis Reen slammed what he called Ireland’s “rampant litigation culture”.

Mr Reen said the current system for dealing with compensation claims appear weighted against businesses like the Aqua Dome and is urgent need of an overhaul.

Mr Reen said increased turnover last year saw the attraction turn a profit but that this profit would likely be eaten up by compensation claims against the Aqua Dome.

“The good news is once again the past year has seen us increase turnover and show a profit. The bad news is that this profit and more will disappear in dealing with the litigation culture that now seems rampant in our country,” he said.

“That it is so is not surprising as it appears that any claim is rewarded, the only decision being the size of the reward,” said Mr Reen.

Mr Reen said that Aqua Dome has never portrayed itself as being anything other than a wet facility and that signage alerts all patrons to exercise caution on wet surfaces.

“I wonder who do you sue when you slip and fall on a ski slope? Who is negligent if you slip on wet surface in a wet facility,” Mr Reen said.

“Our politicians need to bite the bullet on this issue as the whole system needs to be overhauled and this is not going to be done by those that administer and live by the system,” wrote Mr Reen

“Forgive me for not being confident that they will tackle it anytime soon. The vested interests will see to that,” he added.