Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 1 Jul 1998

Vol. 493 No. 4

Written Answers. - Insurance Services.

Richard Bruton

Question:

58 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment whether her Department has responsibility to ensure that the processes and services carried out by insurance companies are equitable; the assistance, if any, her Department will provide to a member of the public who complains that he was treated in other than an equitable and proper manner by an insurance company; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16392/98]

Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Mr. Treacy)

In the context of the supervision of authorised Irish insurers, authorisation/supervision of non-life and life insurance companies in accordance with EU directives and the Insurance Acts and Regulations 1909-90, is carried out by the insurance section of the Department. The purpose of these activities is to ensure that life and non-life companies will be able to meet their obligations to policyholders and claimants.

In addition to the above, the insurance section provides a service to the general public in response to direct complaints and inquiries regarding cost and availability of insurance and other market issues.

On receipt of the query/complaint from an individual/group, or their public representative, the query/complaint is investigated by referral as appropriate to: the Irish Insurance Federation; the individual insurance companies; the Irish Brokers Association; the Insurance Ombudsman; or the Departments or other relevant organisations.

Based on the information received, a ministerial or departmental reply issues in response to the query/complaint as soon as possible. The reply conveys factual information provided by the bodies listed above and the Department does not make representations on behalf of the inquirer. The service offered by our Department in this regard operates in conjunction with similar facilities for Irish insurance consumers, currently provided by the information section of the Irish Insurance Federation and the Office of the Insurance Ombudsman of Ireland.

We are not legally empowered to compel authorised insurance companies to accept or reject individual risks, to set their premiums at particular levels or to include or exclude conditions in particular policies.