Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I am happy to engage with the Minister of State on the results of the survey when it is complete. There has been a large response so far. Hundreds of people have presented their data. I have not had a chance to look at the trends.

Everybody in this committee and the Dáil, when we passed personal injuries guidelines to allow for legislative change to take place and facilitate what happens in the Judiciary, intended to make sure premiums were reduced. There is a piece of legislation there. While I know it is the Ceann Comhairle who makes the decision, I would be interested in knowing whether the Department has engaged with the Ceann Comhairle to express an opinion that a money message is required. It is up to the Minister of State or Department to waive a money message. There are ways to do that.

The motor insurance industry comprises the exact same companies that operate in Britain. In Britain, they have to carry out an independent audit to show that the changes introduced in Britain in respect of whiplash are passed on, pound for pound, to consumers. The Minister of State said that insurance costs have come down but not to the level we were promised. He mentioned that they have come down by 46%. Was that the figure he presented?