Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)

The director has the power to name and shame, as the Deputy said, and to bring whatever information she collects as a result of investigations into the public domain in whatever ways she believes appropriate. She did so effectively on this occasion and it got extensive publicity. Before Christmas, the director of consumer affairs at the Irish Financial Services Regulatory Authority, Mary O'Dea, did the same in regard to insurance. She showed a huge variation for similar profiles. I believe there was an eightfold or more difference between the lowest and the highest. There was a huge variation in the cost of motor insurance.

Naming and shaming is the way to encourage people to reduce their prices. I hope it will also encourage consumers to be more vigilant and supportive of those who have behaved responsibly.

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