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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 21 Feb 2002

Vol. 549 No. 2

Adjournment Debate. - Motor Insurance.

I am grateful for the opportunity to raise again the question of escalating insurance costs, a matter to which the Labour Party dedicated its Private Members' business only last week.

I want, specifically, to raise the question of escalating insurance costs for motorists and explicitly for young drivers. I am prompted by a story in this morning's Irish Independent that it has seen a copy of the long awaited MIAB Report – a committee established by the Minister in 1998 – the conclusions of which the Minister says are awaited by him although an interim report was made available to The Irish Times as a result of an application under the Freedom of Information Act more than a year ago.

If the Irish Independent has seen this report, behind which the Minister has sheltered for a long time, how come he has not seen it? This morning's Irish Independent says that report contains a drastic recommendation to the Government to the effect that price controls ought to be imposed on insurance companies' premia. It goes on to say vested interests are driving up the price of insurance and states that it has seen the report and calls for an independent assessment of compensation. It notes that “young drivers are being overcharged”, and that the exception to this is young male drivers aged 17 years to 19 years on provisional driving licences. It points especially to the fact that the weightings on young female drivers cannot be justified. It further states that since the establishment of the MIAB committee premiums have continued to rise.

Yesterday morning on the Order of Business, the Taoiseach told the House, "The Minister of State is going ahead with his proposals and the legislation will shortly be introduced". Will the Minister tell the House when that legislation will be introduced? Will it be introduced during his term of office? Does he have the MIAB report? If not, how come the Irish Independent has a copy of it? As the Minister responsible for setting up that committee, is he not entitled to receive a copy of the report? Does the Minister accept that tens of thousands of young drivers are awaiting the publication of this report and his actions on it? This situation does not apply to young drivers only; all categories of drivers are being subjected to increases in insurance premia which are out of line with inflation. Young drivers are, as we all know, being punished. If the MIAB Report is as contained in the Irish Independent article then they are acknowledging that the 17 to 19 years old category of young male drivers on provisional licences are, indeed, a loss maker. What about the 20, 21 or 23 year olds who require a motor vehicle to get to work? They are being inordinately punished by increasing insurance premia.

The Minister is aware of the urgency and importance of this matter. Can he tell the House, based on the article in this morning's Irish Independent if there is any relief in sight for motorists? Can the Minister establish the Personal Injuries Assessment Board without legislation? The House has eight sitting days left. Young drivers are facing a crisis.

The Motor Insurance Advisory Board is in the course of finalising its report to me on motor insurance issues generally, and on the relationship between the premiums charged to each category of driver and the claims experience for that category. I expect to receive the report within the next month. When it is presented to me I will consider the board's recommendations and make appropriate proposals to Government. I am aware that there is a high degree of public interest in the report. Therefore, I will publish it as soon as the Government has had an opportunity to review it in detail.

Deputies should not be misled by reports in today's newspapers purporting to quote from the report. While the report is still being worked on, the final version is not yet ready for presentation to the board members for their approval before it is presented to me.

It is premature to speculate as to the impact which the report and its recommendations may have on the cost of insurance, especially for young drivers. It will, however, have an impact on the cost and availability of insurance by providing better market information.

EU law prevents us from intervening in matters of either the pricing or underwriting of insurance. I am confident, however, that the transparency the awaited report will provide about the Irish insurance market, and the relationship between risk and premium charges in Ireland, will be of positive assistance in the future.

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