Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 20 Jun 1990

Vol. 400 No. 2

Written Answers. - Motor Accidents Insurance Claims.

Dinny McGinley

Ceist:

106 Mr. McGinley asked the Minister for the Environment whether persons injured in road accidents involving uninsured drivers and who are awarded damages by the courts, have any claim against the Motor Insurers' Bureau if a vehicle registered outside the State is involved; and, if so, if the victims have any other form of redress.

Minister for the Environment (Mr. Flynn)

Under an international agreement between the Motor Insurers' Bureau and the 12 EC member states, Austria, Czechoslovakia, Finland, the German Democratic Republic, Hungary, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland, an innocent victim of a road accident in one of those states caused by the driver of a vehicle registered in one of the other states is entitled to claim compensation from the national bureau in the state where the accident occurred — whether or not the use of the visiting vehicle was covered by motor insurance.

In the case of an uninsured vehicle which is registered in a state other than those listed above, the victim of the accident occurring in Ireland may claim personal injuries compensation from the Motor Insurers' Bureau of Ireland.

Claims relating to accidents involving visiting vehicles, which occur in Ireland, are handled by the Irish Visiting Motorists' Bureau, or the Motor Insurers' Bureau of Ireland, as appropriate. Both bodies are located at 3/4 South Frederick Street, Dublin 2, from which details of claims procedures and conditions can be obtained. Victims of road accidents involving visiting vehicles should consult a solicitor for legal advice on the formulation of claims; and on the securing or enforcement of court judgements against drivers resident outside the jurisdiction of the State.