Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 13 Mar 1996

Vol. 463 No. 1

Written Answers. - Compensation for Pillion Passengers.

Pádraic McCormack

Ceist:

82 Mr. McCormack asked the Minister for the Environment his views on whether the exclusion of pillion passengers from the terms of the agreement entered into between him and the Motor Insurers Bureau of Ireland has created a major anomaly in view of the fact that a pedestrian knocked down by a motor cycle who suffers minor injuries will be compensated in full while a pillion passenger on the motor cycle in the same accident who may suffer massive injuries will receive no compensation whatsoever. [5819/96]

Pádraic McCormack

Ceist:

83 Mr. McCormack asked the Minister for the Environment the plans, if any, he has to change the agreement entered into between him and the Motor Insurers' Bureau of Ireland in order that pillion passengers on motor cycles will be entitled to benefit from the terms of the agreement. [5820/96]

Pádraic McCormack

Ceist:

84 Mr. McCormack asked the Minister for the Environment the reason pillion passengers on a motor cycle are excluded from the benefits of the agreement entered into between him and the Motor Insurers' Bureau of Ireland. [5821/96]

Minister for the Environment (Mr. Howlin)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 82, 83 and 84, inclusive, together. The scope of the compensation available under the agreement with the Motor Insurers' Bureau of Ireland is directly related to the compulsory insurance provisions of the road traffic Acts and Regulations.

Insurance of pillion passengers on motor cycles is not compulsory at present, but will be required with effect from 31 December 1998. In line with this extension of compulsory cover, pillion passengers will be covered by the agreement in the case of accidents caused by uninsured motorcyclists occurring on or after that date.