Vol. 534 No. 3
81 Mr. P. Carey asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if her attention has been drawn to the practice in the insurance industry when quoting for motor insurance, particularly for younger drivers, to give two totally different quotations for male and female drivers; if she is satisfied that action will be taken to eliminate this type of discrimination; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10412/01]
The underwriting criteria used by insurers are normally based on their experience of underwriting particular risks. This includes trends in the level, frequency and cost of claims for particular segments of risks of the insurance market and classes of risk are a matter for judgment by individual private insurance companies. Having regard to the different quotations given to male and female drivers, I understand that statistics supplied by the National Roads Authority indicate that there is a far higher incidence of road accidents among young male drivers than females. In 1999, in the 18 to 34 age group, 63 male drivers were killed and 1,225 males injured while the corresponding figures for female drivers indicate that five were killed and 710 females were injured. These statistics suggest that younger male drivers pose a greater underwriting risk than their female counterparts.
I established the Motor Insurance Advisory Board in 1998, to examine the factors that influence the cost of motor insurance in particular, the relationship between the premiums being levied on different categories of drivers and the claims experience of those categories. The difference in the rating criteria for males and females will be one of the issues to be included in the final report to be submitted to me, by the end of this year.
Any individual who considers that he or she has experienced discrimination contrary to the Equal Status Act, 2000, may refer a complaint to the Director of Equality Investigations for investigation or mediation.
82 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she will set out the principal recommendations of the report by a company (details supplied) on insurance costs; the dates of the report being commissioned and received; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10413/01]
The Deloitte and Touche report on the economic evaluation of insurance costs in Ireland was commissioned in June 1995 and received in October 1996. The principal recommendations of the report regarding liability insurance are as follows. The report recommends initiatives that small firms and community-voluntary groups should take to improve claims experience and reduce insurance costs; the Health and Safety Authority to be strengthened to near the same relative level in terms of resources and powers as the Health and Safety Executive in the UK; FÁS to co-operate with the HSA in the provision of risk manage ment and training; and a date to be set for a review of a proposal recommending a legal basis for employers liability insurance. Regarding personal injury compensation the report recommends the establishment, subject to detailed examination, of a personal injuries tribunal to deal, by agreement between plaintiff and defendant, with small claims where liability is not at issue; guidelines for general damages awards in personal injury cases to be drawn up by a specialist panel on behalf of the Judiciary, appropriate to Irish tradition and case law; measures to effect greater transparency in court and more efficient use of pre-trial procedures in personal injury cases – these measures are put forward for consideration by the various courts committees and are directed mainly for consideration by the Department of Justice; solicitors' no-foul-no-fee advertisements to advise plaintiffs in writing before a claim is lodged that the plaintiff may incur costs if the action fails; and improve consultation between insurers and other interested groups by agreeing guidelines for processing claims. Relating to private motor insurance, it states to evaluate an Ontario initiative on graduated licensing for learner drivers with a view to examining its feasibility in an Irish context; and to introduce driving-related subjects as a transition year topic in secondary schools.
Other recommendations relate to improving the monitoring of liability and motor insurance costs and their contributory factors.
