asked the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Energy (a) the loadings in motor insurance premiums which he has permitted insurance companies to apply in the case of senior citizens in the Dublin area, (b) whether the companies, or any of them, supplied statistics in support of their case for these loadings, (c) if he will disclose the general pattern of these statistics, and (d) if he considers that the statistics justify these loadings.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Motor Insurance Premiums.
18.
Loadings by reference to age of driver have always been a feature of the underwriting practice of insurance companies. Such loadings are applied to policyholders in the "young" and "old" age categories. The amount of the loadings varies from company to company. There are no age loadings specific to the Dublin area.
To facilitate the calculation on a scientific basis of the levels of premium appropriate to particular risks, statistics relating to loadings generally on an industry-wide basis are being collected and analysed by the Motor Premiums Advisory Committee established in October 1973. Pending the completion of this exercise, which is necessarily of a long-term nature, loading of premiums continues to be operated on a relatively arbitrary basis—by reference to area, age of driver and/or age of vehicle. I have urged on the MPAC the need to make available as soon as possible the results of their work. In that regard I await with interest the results relating to age loadings, for at this stage, I am not satisfied that these loadings and particularly those for drivers in the "old" age groups are fully justified.
I am delighted to hear that reply. Will the Minister undertake, in the event that the statistics do not bear out the suggestion which is obviously latent in these loadings that senior citizens are more frequently involved in or are the cause of accidents to other people, to press the insurance companies concerned to make rebates in respect of overcharging in the past?
I will have the matter examined but I would not like to give a categorical assurance here in the House just like that.
Would the Minister not agree that it is extremely unfair that senior citizens, who because of their very seniority are perhaps less full of fight than they might be at the Minister's age, should be charged more than the risk which their age group implies for insurance which the law requires them to have?
As I have said, I am not satisfied with the situation. I will wait until I get the statistics.