I propose to take Questions Nos. 38 and 41 together
I am very much aware of the substantial increases in insurance premiums that many businesses and individuals are facing and of the problems this is creating for them.
The pricing and underwriting of insurance is, however, a matter for individual insurance companies. EU law prevents me and the Department from intervening in relation to the matter of premium levels or in respect of what risks they are prepared to underwrite. Insurers make decisions on provision of cover based on their assessment of that particular risk.
However, the Government intends to tackle the high costs of insurance by way of the comprehensive set of measures, which we have put forward in An Agreed Programme for Government.
An Agreed Programme for Government contains a commitment to implement urgently the recommendations of the Motor Insurance Advisory Board, MIAB.
The implementation group, which was set up at the end of April 2002, is making good progress on preparation of an action plan to give effect to the 67 recommendations. The action plan, which I intend to make publicly available, will contain a target timeframe for implementation of each recommendation by the Department or body concerned.