Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 November 2015
1164. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he is aware of the rising costs of motor insurance for private vehicles and for taxis, with many motorists experiencing increases of around 100% in the past year, particularly customers of a company (details supplied); and his plans to keep motor insurance costs at a reasonable rate, which does not unfairly increase the cost of operating a vehicle. [37437/15]
View answerIn the context of increasing motor insurance premium costs, my Department is not responsible for oversight (including the regulation, consumer protection etc) of the insurance sector. It falls under the remit of the Minister for Finance. In addition, the National Competitiveness Council, which is serviced by the Department of Jobs Enterprise and Innovation has recently carried out some analysis of insurance costs, which is included in its Costs of Doing Business 2015 report
(http://www.competitiveness.ie/Publications/2015/24022045-Costs_of_Doing_Business_in_Ireland-Publication.pdf), noted by the Cabinet Committee earlier this year. Furthermore, the Department of Jobs Enterprise and Innovation has responsibility for the Injuries Board, which is one of the few mechanisms the Government uses/can use in relation to the cost of motor insurance (the Injuries Board has had the effect of reducing the processing cost of claims).
