asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he is aware that in the case of a person (name supplied) an insurance company (name supplied) have increased the motor insurance premium by 50 per cent. in addition to demanding that a sum of £50 be lodged with the company, because of the fact that the insurer had had an accident during the previous twelve months; and whether he will take some action to prevent insurance companies from forcing the owners of motor vehicles off the road by charging such excessive amounts.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Motor Insurance Premium.
21.
I have no power to intervene in individual cases of this nature.
I am sure the Minister will agree that the effort made by the insurance company to put somebody off the road by imposing a penal clause should be investigated by his Department who are the only people who can do it.
I could not undertake to examine the individual insurances entered into by an insurance company.
Has the Minister the right to interfere?
I have a general power under the Act of 1936 to control insurance premiums but that power has never been exercised by any Minister and I do not propose to do it in a case like this.
This is an example of what has been happening on a very wide scale. In view of the seriousness of the matter, would the Minister not reconsider it?
I will not make any promise.
Will the Minister say whether the motorist has any remedy in a case like this?
It is still a competitive business and there are many other insurance companies.
Surely the Minister is aware that the insurance companies have an agreement by which they will not take business from one another? In a case like this, the motorist has no redress, unless the Minister does something about it.