Vol. 461 No. 3
96 Mr. Ellis asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment the current position regarding the insurance of vehicles that are registered in this State but are insured in another member State of the EU; the EU position in such situations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2810/96]
The cross-Border availability of motor insurance has been in operation in Ireland since 25 August 1992 under Regulations (S.I. 244/1992) implementing the Motor Insurance Services Directive (90/618/EEC — O.J. No. L330/44). Under those regulations, vehicles registered in the State could be insured by an insurer established in another member state, provided that, in the case of private individuals and certain other risks, as defined, the insurer was granted an authorisation by the Minister in addition to any authorisation held from its home member state. In all other cases, mainly large commerical policyholders, a single authorisation from the home member state was sufficient.
Under subsequent regulations (S.I. 359/1994) implementing the Third Non-Life Insurance Framework Directive (92/49/EEC — O.J. No. L228/1) the motor insurance market was fully liberalised by the institution of the single authorisation system for all risks, irrespective of size, insured throughout the EU whether on a branch or cross-Border basis. This system is in operation throughout the European Union under agreed harmonised procedures.
