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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 5 Nov 2002

Vol. 556 No. 3

Written Answers. - Insurance Industry.

Brendan Howlin

Ceist:

83 Mr. Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the progress made to date in implementing the recommendations of the Motor Insurance Advisory Board; if a timetable has been set for the implementation of the recommendations; if she intends to take interim measures to control the price of motor insurance, especially for young drivers, pending the full implementation of the report; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20353/02]

Trevor Sargent

Ceist:

91 Mr. Sargent asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the measures she has employed or plans to employ which would address the unaffordability of car and motorcycle insurance for young drivers, especially in view of the impediment such exorbitant prices place on taking up certain types of employment. [20382/02]

Kathleen Lynch

Ceist:

112 Ms Lynch asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if her attention has been drawn to recent figures showing that the average Irish person now spends 40% more on all forms of insurance than a person in the rest of the EU; if, in view of the situation depicted in the report, she will outline the proposals she has to deal with the excessive cost of insurance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20355/02]

Trevor Sargent

Ceist:

123 Mr. Sargent asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment her plans to address the concerns of the Irish Small and Medium Enterprises Association Limited over the prohibitive increases in insurance costs in recent years. [20381/02]

Kathleen Lynch

Ceist:

128 Ms Lynch asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the steps she intends to take to address the crisis facing many companies, schools and community and voluntary organisations arising from the non-availability or the crippling cost of public liability insurance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20356/02]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 83, 91, 112, 123 and 128 together.

On 25 October, I announced my proposals for fundamental insurance reform. The proposals reflect the commitments in An Agreed Programme for Government and comprise a comprehensive set of inter-related measures, designed to improve the functioning of the insurance market. The key measures include the establishment of a ministerial committee, chaired by myself, to oversee implementation of the reform programme, including the 67 recommendations in the report of the Motor Insurance Advisory Board; publication of an action plan to give effect to the MIAB recommendations within a target timeframe; establishment of the personal injuries assessment board on an interim basis, pending preparation of the necessary legislation to put the board on a statutory footing; and publication of the report of the implementation group on the PIAB. While EU law precludes the imposition of price controls on insurance, I have made it clear that I expect aquid pro quo from the industry in response to my reform programme.
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