Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 3 March 2004
243 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Transport his plans to implement legislation in the immediate future to assist drivers of insured vehicles who are hit by cars that are neither taxed nor insured because the insured driver must bear the brunt of all car repair costs when he or she cannot make an insurance claim against another insurance company; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7202/04]
View answerI have no such plans.
In 1988 there was an agreement between the then Minister for the Environment and the Motor Insurers' Bureau of Ireland. As a result the bureau undertakes liability to pay compensation to innocent victims of motor vehicle accidents involving uninsured drivers and untraced vehicles. The compensation covers personal injuries and injury to property, in the case of accidents caused by uninsured drivers, and personal injury in the case of accidents caused by hit and run accidents.
The position accords with the current requirements of the EU motor insurance directives. There is a European Commission proposal under discussion for a further motor insurance directive that would, inter alia, make some provision for property damage in hit and run accidents in certain circumstances. Ireland is supportive of the proposal in principle provided adequate safeguards are included in order to exclude fraudulent claims.
