Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The issue of motor insurance is severely impacting people throughout the country and we need to see the Government take action that will reduce insurance premiums. Fianna Fáil has continued to highlight the issue and has proposed solutions. Drivers need to be protected from the steep increases we have seen in insurance premiums. For many people, despite the fact that they are driving the same car, the increases have been well over 50% over the past three years. It is the same risk for the same person, but the insurance premium has dramatically increased. This is not right and should not be allowed to continue.

People are finding it difficult to insure cars that are more than ten years old or are being denied insurance outright. This hits younger drivers who are trying to put their first car on the road to get to work or college much harder than others. The cars have NCT certificates, run the same as an eight or a nine year old car and would be insured by the original owner, yet these young drivers find they cannot get insurance for these cars because they are ten years old.

The issue with penalty points is infuriating people. When they get their letter from the RSA stating that their penalty points have expired and they head to renew their insurance, instead of a drop the premium increases. This is very difficult to stomach.

Action must be taken for the benefit of returned emigrants so that more people are encouraged to come home. Those coming from the UK or Australia who have been driving on the same side of the road and have the same driving experience should be given credit for it and have the benefit of a no claims discount.

People are not buying car insurance because they love the sticker on the window or because it gives them a nice glowy feeling and peace of mind. Many of those policies are grudgingly purchased and the increased price is pushing more people to drive without car insurance. This needs to be tackled. Fianna Fáil has continued to pursue the issue and the working group has made proposals, many of which are similar to what we proposed. Now we need to see them being implemented. The report is no good unless the Government follows through on it and motor insurance premiums are reduced.

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