Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 3 May 2001

Vol. 535 No. 3

Written Answers - Insurance Industry.

Pat Rabbitte

Question:

19 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the action she intends to take arising from the interim report of the Motor Insurance Advisory Board suggesting that insurance companies were making profits on all categories of drivers, other than those under 18; if she will consider requesting the Equality Authority to use the powers available to it to carry out an investigation to determine whether there have been discriminatory practices based on age or gender; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12179/01]

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

In the interim report of the Motor Insurance Advisory Board, recently released under the Freedom of Information Act, the board recognised that the raw data available to it on insurance premiums and claims were incomplete.

The insurance industry will be supplying verified data to the board within a timeframe agreed with the MIAB. The board's statistician will carry out a detailed analysis of the data provided and will need an appropriate length of time to do so. The board's final report is expected by the end of this year. In the light of its recommendations, I will take whatever further action is appropriate.

Under the Equal Status Act, 2000, any individual who considers that he or she has experienced discrimination, within the meaning of the Act, may refer a complaint to the Director of Equality Investigations for investigation or mediation. Among the areas of potential discrimination are the age or sex of an individual.