Mairead Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Gabhaim buíochas leis na finnéithe as ucht teacht os comhair an choiste. Many of the questions I intended asking have already been asked. I will follow up on two issues. First, in relation to the conversation with my colleague, Deputy Doherty, I am interested in the powers available to the Central Bank. In Britain, the Financial Conduct Authority is able to take cases instead of consumers. Does the Central Bank require additional powers to be able to do that?

My second question is on personal injuries guidelines. Since the guidelines came into effect in April, the data from the board shows that the average personal injury award has fallen by 40%. However, we have not seen that translated into a euro for euro reduction in insurance premiums. In Britain, when similar guidelines came into effect with respect to whiplash awards, legislation was passed requiring insurers to provide information to the Financial Conduct Authority outlining the average premium since the whiplash guidelines came into effect, the average premium had they not come into affect and the quantum of that reduction in awards which was passed on to consumers in the form of reduced premiums. Can the national information claims database provide that same level of information?