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

He said it is all wrong. I am not saying it is all right but it is not all wrong either. We have a significant problem with fraud, exaggerated claims and the levels of awards. That is where the real problems are in the insurance sector.

The Personal Injuries Commission benchmarked the level of award for soft tissue injuries, which come to 70% of all claims, against those in the UK. It found awards here are 4.4 times what they are in the UK. We have a problem with insurance fraud and exaggerated claims. In my view, the latter is a much larger issue. We will deal with that when the national claims information database comes online when section 8 of the Central Bank (National Claims Information Database) Bill 2018 is commenced.

The Deputy misrepresented my position on the Garda insurance fraud section. I support it. However, I do not support it being paid for directly by the industry. If Insurance Ireland wishes to pay the moneys into the Exchequer and they are then passed on to the Garda, then I am 100% behind that.