The Cost of Insurance Working Group considered measures which could be taken to tackle insurance fraud in Ireland and recommended the setting up of a fully functioning insurance fraud database for industry to detect patterns of fraud. A dedicated Working Group has been set up in the Department of Justice and Equality to implement this recommendation. I understand that this Group met for the first time in March and is continuing to meet on a regular basis. Important issues relate to determining the parameters of the database to be established, who is to be responsible, how it will be funded and who will have access. With regard to the point raised by the Deputy, I understand that the Group is considering the extent of information to be contained on the database in light of data protection and privacy requirements.
An Garda Síochána, the Motor Insurers’ Bureau of Ireland and Insurance Ireland are represented on the Working Group. It will decide whether there are any requirements for legislation and, if so, what kind of legislation is needed, taking account of current and impending EU data protection legislation.