Léim ar aghaidh chuig an bpríomhábhar
Gnáthamharc

Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 18 Feb 2003

Vol. 561 No. 4

Written Answers. - Insurance Industry.

David Stanton

Ceist:

168 Mr. Stanton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment further to Parliamentary Question No. 197 of 11 February 2003, if she will outline the members of the ministerial committee established to oversee implementation of insurance reform; the number of the 67 recommendations of the Motor Insurance Advisory Board that have to date been implemented; the anticipated timescale for implementation of the remaining recommendations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4530/03]

Breeda Moynihan-Cronin

Ceist:

170 Ms B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the progress made to date with regard to the implementation of her action plan for the insurance industry; the timetable for the implementation of the different elements of the plan; her plans to take steps in the meantime to deal with the escalating cost of insurance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4441/03]

Phil Hogan

Ceist:

189 Mr. Hogan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the progress being made in respect of the implementation of the action plan on insurance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4599/03]

Seán Crowe

Ceist:

194 Mr. Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she believes that the quid pro quo she expected from the insurance industry in response to her programme of reform has manifested itself. [4719/03]

Seán Crowe

Ceist:

195 Mr. Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of times the ministerial committee chaired by her to oversee the implementation of her programme for reform of the insurance industry has met; the Ministers and officials who attend the meetings; and the progress the committee has made on implementing the 67 recommendations of the Motor Insurance Advisory Board report. [4720/03]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 168, 170, 189, 194 and 195 together.

The ministerial committee established to oversee implementation of insurance reform, which I chair also includes the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, the Minister for Transport and the chairperson of the Motor Insurance Advisory Board.

To date, the ministerial committee has met once. That meeting was attended by the Ministers as stated above and senior officials from the respective Departments. As a follow-up to that meeting four other bilateral meetings have taken place involving the various Departments and the Irish Insurance Federation. These meetings were attended by senior officials. Another ministerial meeting has been scheduled to take place within the next two weeks.

Progress has been made on the majority of the MIAB recommendations and, to date, ten have been implemented. EU law prevents me from intervening directly in the pricing or underwriting of insurance. However, I have made it clear that I consider there to be an onus on the insurance industry to ensure that the reforms to be taken as outlined in my reform programme will have the effect of significantly reducing the cost of premia to consumers. I expect such benefits to accrue when more of the reforms are in place.

Barr
Roinn