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

The Deputy is out of touch. He is ignoring the fact that the average insurance premium has decreased by 23%. The figure which peaked at July 2016 was a 60% increase. That figure is from the Central Statistics Office, CSO. The CSO is analysing the numbers and has stated there has been a 23% decrease since then. We need to deal with the facts.

We have problems in the insurance sector with fraud and exaggerated claims as well as high awards. Those are the facts and that is what the bulk of money goes on when the premium is paid.

Maybe the Deputy does not agree with the CSO. It is easy for him to pluck out an individual case, claiming it has gone from €30,000 to more than €100,000. I have to deal with the average figure. The Deputy can ignore it all he wants but there has been a reduction of 23% since the cost of insurance working group was established.