Under the Road Traffic Act 1961, it is an offence to "use in a public place a mechanically propelled vehicle unless ... there is in force at that time an approved policy of insurance". Penalties provided for include a maximum fine of €2,500, the imposition of five penalty points and the impounding of the vehicle. Enforcement is a matter for the Garda, including members of the traffic corps.
Government policy in respect of the cost and availability of motor insurance is to implement the recommendations of the Motor Insurance Advisory Board as set out in its first and final reports. Substantial progress has already been made on the recommendations including the introduction of the PIAB and the Civil Liability and Courts Act. The Central Statistics Office consumer price index shows that the cost of motor insurance has fallen by nine percentage points during the last calendar year and, since April 2003, the cost of motor insurance has fallen by 21%.
I propose to ask my Department officials to follow up on the outstanding MIAB recommendations and also to examine the recently published Competition Authority report with a view to sustaining and building on progress to date.
