asked the Minister for Justice if he is aware of the large number of uninsured vehicles being driven at present and of the serious consequences of this situation for road users; and the action he proposes to take in the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Uninsured Drivers.
3.
I am greatly concerned at the high incidence of uninsured driving. The Garda Síochána are, of course, conscious of the problem and are active in their efforts to detect offenders and to enforce the law. Because the relevant prosecution statistics cover not only the offence of driving without insurance but also that of failing to produce a certificate of insurance at a Garda station within the period of ten days prescribed by statute, it is not possible to say precisely how many prosecutions are brought in respect of the offence of having no insurance. However, the Deputy may take it that, in recent years, the number of such prosecutions has been of the order of 30,000 per annum.
It is public knowledge that the high cost of motor insurance is one of the factors that prompts many people to take the risk of driving uninsured vehicles. As the Deputy is doubtless aware, this aspect of the problem has been mentioned in the course of the inquiry which is at present being conducted into the cost of motor insurance by the body established by the Minister for Trade, Commerce and Tourism. While it is clear that there is no easy answer to that particular difficulty, it may be that the outcome of that inquiry will go some way towards suggesting a solution for what is undoubtedly a problem of great concern to all of us.
Has the Minister any specific proposals in mind to deal with the problem, and would he consider starting a disc system as a means of identifying people who have their cars insured?
It is a matter for the Garda Síochána to enforce the law in this particular area.
What did the Minister say? I did not hear the last reply.
It is a matter for the Garda Síochána to enforce the law in this particular area.
Deputy Cosgrave's question was different.
Has the Minister any specific proposals in mind?
It is a matter for the Garda Síochána to enforce the law.
I do not wish to cut in on Deputy Cosgrave because I know what he has in mind. He has not got a reply from the Minister yet.
He got a reply.
An evasive reply.
I had intended to cover this ground if Deputy Cosgrave did not, but he has done so.
Deputy Cosgrave is well able to take care of himself. Would Deputy Kelly ask a supplementary?
In view of his reply that the matter of enforcing the law is one for the Garda, has the Minister any proposals for changing the law in the sense suggested by Deputy Cosgrave's question, namely, to ensure that the identification of an uninsured vehicle would be facilitated by a rule requiring a driver to carry on his windscreen a certificate, or disc, indicating that that particular vehicle is insured in the name of that particular driver at that particular time? Has he or has he not got such proposals? Has he or has he not pressed the Minister for the Environment, whose business it is, apparently, to supervise this corner of administration, to promote a change in the law to that effect?
I have not.
Why not? Has the Minister any opinion on the advisability of having a disc or similar system?
No consideration has been given by me to that aspect.
I put it to the Minister that it could be well worth his while to examine the way this system operates in some continental countries. Do not mind what the English do. The English do not have this system and naturally the "Pats" do not have it either.
Would the Minister accept that frequently the penalties imposed by the courts are such that there is an incentive to drive without insurance? The penalty is often less than one year's premium. Would he take that matter up with the courts and with the prosecuting authorities?
I have already consulted on that particular matter.
With what result?
Arising out of my previous question, has the Minister communicated his concern about so much uninsured driving to the relevant Garda authorities?
The Garda are aware of my concern.
Would the Minister be prepared to issue a directive to the licensing authorities directing them to make available on search to members of the public particulars of the insurance or non-insurance on each motor vehicle registered in the authority?
That is something I might consider.
I sympathise with Deputy Taylor's question but——
Instead of sympathising, would you ask a question?
How is it that the Minister is prepared to give Deputy Taylor's question favourable consideration, notwithstanding that it would necessarily imply a severe breach of private affairs in regard to the motorists concerned, but is not willing to consider for a second, and has no opinion about, the disc system Deputy Cosgrave suggests?
That is a separate question. The Deputy's memory is like his question.