Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will address Manitoba when I respond to Deputy Mick Barry's contribution because he referred to it specifically.

We must also consider moral hazard when it comes to driver behaviour. If everyone were to get free insurance, what would be its effect on the way in which people drive on the roads? This is not a casual or throwaway line about moral hazard. We would get some interesting feedback if we were to seek data on the effect on driver behaviour when people renting cars cover the excess versus those who do not do so.

Deputy Boyd Barrett also raised the issue of insurance costs for young and elderly people. Insurers must price based on the risk as they perceive it. If we bring transparency to the information, as the Department and the joint committee are proposing to do, we will be able to identify the actual risk. If we have the data, the insurance companies will be able to price insurance accordingly.

Given the time constraints, I will have to skip through my responses, unless I can have more time.

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