Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Michael McGrath for raising this issue. There has been a complete lack of urgency on the part of the Minister in dealing with it. I have a couple of examples to set out. The first involves a 33 year old man who is the model citizen as far as this city is concerned. He lived in an apartment for four years.. As he had no need for a car, he went around on a bike. He was given a promotion and has now acquired a car, only to be charged €2,300 for insurance. He pays more per month for insurance than he does for his car.

The second example involves an emigrant returning from the Continent, which is to say the kind of person the Government is trying to attract as a result of Brexit. Notwithstanding the fact that they have a perfect driving record, the person concerned is being charged just under €3,000 for car insurance. It is crucifying us, in particular younger drivers. Older customers are not even being given quotes. If a person is over 75 years of age and trying to get an insurance quote in this market, he or she will be loaded beyond belief, if he or she will even be given a quote.

As Deputy Michael Moynihan said, businesses in the service industry, in particular, are being refused cover because of a lack of competition in the market, all because of a cosy consensus which does not allow out-of-court settlements to be revealed. Settlements are being made without any record or note being taken of their scope and the impact they are having on insurance costs. Urgency is required because the issue is affecting our competitiveness and impacting on requests and demands for improved pay and conditions. It will impact on the Government's ability to attract businesses as a result of Brexit. Unless there is urgency, we will be back here in a year's time with the problem having got worse. We need action now. We need the Minister to demonstrate that the gravity of the problem is understood and that the nettle will be grasped.

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