Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The big problem is sympathy with no action. I congratulate my colleague for bringing this motion before the House. The idea that people have been waiting years for compensation for accidents is not sustainable and, at the end of the day, responsibility for these issues rests with Government.

Governments should always look after those who are hurt through no fault of their own. People bought insurance in good faith and when they were involved in accidents and the other party involved took a third party claim against them, it transpired that, despite being clearly in the right, the third party was left out to dry by the Government. It is not good enough to abstain from or vote for the motion. What we need is action because the challenge presented by insurance must be addressed.

The other day, I was contacted by an individual who has a clean driving record and previously held a taxi licence, for which he took out taxi insurance. He later left the industry for four years to attend university and better himself but was unable to find a job afterwards and decided to resume driving a taxi. The individual in question was quoted - I saw the quotation - €13,000 for taxi insurance for one year, despite having a clean driving record and having held private insurance on a private car for the four previous years. Mature women with an impeccable driving record and full no claims bonus are being quoted €1,200. We are all aware of younger people who have been quoted €4,000, €5,000 and €6,000 for motor insurance. This issue must be addressed. People wonder about pressure on wages but it is no good putting money in one pocket if it is coming out of the other pocket at such a fast rate.

Former policyholders with Setanta Insurance should be compensated and the money recouped by the State. The sum involved is negligible for the State in the greater scheme of things but a substantial amount for the individuals concerned. I call on the Government to stop rehearsing the argument that another independent body is dealing with the issue and start governing as it is elected to do.

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