Mr. Michael Horan:

The general point made by the Deputy is fair. We have said we are committed to working on data. It is an exercise that takes time to go through, with the best will in the world, to try to define the requirements to consult with people, and that is what we are committed to doing. Regarding the question on why premium increases are as high as they are, this is primarily dictated by the cost of claims in general and by an individual's claim experience. Motor insurance and premiums are based on a number of rating factors such as age, driving experience and claims experience. The overall claims costs underneath the surface dictate what way premiums will go, and this is the fundamental issue. Some of the issues we are speaking about are internal to insurance companies, some are about insurers' pricing and some are external to insurance companies - for example, the level of awards and legal costs. A holistic view needs to be taken on how to address all of these issues. We need to focus on the large size of awards in the country, particularly for whiplash. We need more consistency in the awards. We need lower legal costs in litigation cases.