Tom Neville (Limerick County, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I too welcome the fact this issue has been raised. In my inaugural speech I said it was the issue raised with me by people on the doorsteps. It was highlighted for me when, as a returning emigrant, I was hit with the news that I no longer had a no claims bonus.

I welcome what the Minister of State, Deputy Eoghan Murphy, has done in recent months regarding the generation of the report, the tasks on hand, the priorities set and the timeline that has been put down. We are trying to tackle and change the overall industry so it is a big ship to move, notwithstanding our responsibility to consumers who are feeling the pressure from this in that any disposal income they are earning, with an improved economy and more jobs being created, is starting to be etched away by the rising cost of car insurance.

It must be highlighted that there are a number of discrepancies within the industry in that products can be priced differently when people are seeking quotes on the telephone. A major problem highlighted to me is that an insurance company can take a product, put a different name on it and sell it at a different price. It is the same risk, the same policy and the consumer will get the same return but it is sold at a different price, and the consumer does not know that. That is the first issue I want to highlight.

I find it difficult to get my head around the issue of the cost of insuring older cars. The owners must do an NCT every year but because their cars are ten, 12 or 14 years old they are told they must pay a higher insurance premium. I do not understand the risk with regard to the car because it passes the NCT.

As a result of the improved economy vehicle sales in the first quarter of 2016 were 68% of what was sold in 2012. That market is much more buoyant.

The final issue I want to raise is non-disclosure of previous claims. It is often the case that people are denied claims because they may not have disclosed previous claims but many of the questions being asked by the insurers are vague. That issue must be tackled also.

I understand there is a responsibility on the Government to drive this issue and that is the reason I welcome the motion, but there is a responsibility on the industry also.

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