asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he is aware of the unfair and excessively high premiums for motor insurance charged by insurance companies to commercial travellers notwithstanding that the aggregate annual amount of claims made by such travellers amounts to less than one-third of the annual premiums paid by them; and if he will consider taking steps to remedy this situation.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Commercial Travellers Motor Insurance Premiums.
17.
Mr. Ryan
I am aware that commercial travellers are charged rates for motor insurance that are higher than those which apply to private motorists. I am informed by the insurance companies that these rates are based on the claims experience of commercial travellers as a whole. I do not consider that intervention by me is called for.
Mr. Ryan
Has the Minister seen the figures produced by the Commercial Travellers' Association which suggest that the claims rate of commercial travellers is, in fact, much less than the claims rate of other people? Would he go into the matter in view of the fact that the Minister for Local Government passed the buck last week during the Road Traffic Bill to date?
If the figures referred to by the Deputy are represented in the suggestion contained in the Question that one-third of the annual premiums paid by them represents the claims experience, I should like to assure the Deputy that figure is entirely wrong.
Mr. Ryan
I shall give to the Minister the figures that I got.