asked the Minister for Trade, Commerce and Tourism if he is concerned about the effect of a recent High Court award (details supplied) on car insurance premiums; if he intends to take any steps to implement the O'Connor report on insurance; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Motor Insurance.
24.
Any development likely to affect the solvency of insurers or impact on the level of motor insurance premiums is obviously of concern to me. I understand that the ruling in the particular case referred to by the Deputy may be the subject of appeal to the Supreme Court and any comprehensive examination of the matter must await this.
The O'Connor Committee of Inquiry into the Insurance Industry in its Interim Report on Motor Insurance made a number of recommendations. I take it the Deputy is referring in particular to the recommendation relating to the concept of liability irrespective of fault. This concept is, of course, one which has far-reaching implications for our legal system; if it were to be introduced, it would have to be dealt with in a far wider context than that of the motor sector only.
Part of the thinking behind that recommendation was the elimination of unnecessary costs and delays involved in processing cases through the courts. As the Deputy is aware, the 1981 Courts Act provided for a substantial increase in the jurisdiction of the Circuit and District Courts, and it is expected that this will reduce the number of cases going to higher courts.
I might also mention the Prices Advisory Committee set up in November 1981 to inquire into the cost of motor insurance. Its terms of reference included investigation of the legal liability of owners and drivers of mechanically propelled vehicles and the system of assessing and determining such liability and the damages or compensation in respect of such loss or damage.
The committee's report has just been submitted to me and I expect it to provide the opportunity for a new appraisal of the situation.
25.
asked the Minister for Trade, Commerce and Tourism if he has received the report on the inquiry into the motor insurance industry; and, if so, when he proposes to publish it.
I have recently received the Report of the Prices Advisory Committee on Motor Insurance. In view of the wide public interest in the subject of the inquiry I plan to publish the committee's report without delay — hopefully before the end of this month.