Michael D'Arcy (Wexford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Let me outline again that we have recently conducted a mystery shopper exercise between the Department and Insurance Ireland. Both entities had a mystery shopper exercise for vehicles over ten years of age. The variation in the market was enormous - the premium doubled between the lowest and the highest. I cannot instruct each individual company how to have their pricing structure based upon their risk models. That is a matter for them. What is a matter for every individual is - a point I make all of the time - is to shop around. Unfortunately too many people stay with the same company or broker. They never change. There is much better value out there, if people shop around and get new pricing opportunities, whether with a broker or directly with the insurance company.