Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I appreciate that and we are at one on the importance of data and raw data. Reference was made earlier to the statistics released by the industry rebutting claims by the Law Society of Ireland. This information, which was provided by the industry to the Minister of State on request, was about the average increases in legal costs over a three-year period. Everybody knows that when one controls the data, one can very much abuse the data also, and the way it is presented, to make a particular argument. Even at a quick glance, it was very clear that the information was presented in a way that suited the narrative the industry was peddling. The data shows the levels of compensation but there is no reference to the additional numbers of motorists on the roads between 2013 and 2015. This increase in driver numbers is a factor. As there are more cars, there will automatically be more claims, unfortunately. On the increase in legal costs, the industry made the issue that the insured person's legal costs were running at around a 12% increase over three years. When we actually look at the industry's own figures, the increase in claimant legal costs is shown at about 8% between 2014 and 2015. This is exactly the same as the legal costs for the industry itself over the same period. Again, it is about how the data is put forward. When it controls the data, it allows it to provide it selectively. That is an aside but it is important that we get the data availability right.

I welcome the fact the Minister of State has made the point a number of times now about reasons behind increases. When the motion was going through the Dáil, it was one of the areas I focused on, and that it was not a case that we were just looking at 33% increase on average. Individuals must have a right to an explanation as to why insurance premiums are increasing above the average in the sector. If he would not mind, will the Minister of State pursue that issue again? The argument he has received from the industry do not hold water; it is bull. That is the reality. We are not looking for names and addresses of individuals. We are looking for sample cases such as Mary Jo in Fanad was insured for €350, had no claims, is driving the exact same vehicle and has no penalty points but her renewal premium is €985 and this is the reason for it. That can be a fictional person but based on a real case file. There is no reason the industry should not provide the data to the Minister with responsibility for this issue. If the industry does not provide it, let me be clear that it is basically shunning the work of this committee. The request from this committee, through the Minister of State, for this type of data to be made available is so that we can be satisfied that the insurance industry gouging its own customers or that it is not doing so. That is what we need to know and, if he would not mind, I ask the Minister of State to pursue that again, bearing in mind that he requested it earlier.