Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

It is disappointing to hear that we have to rely on the market and the insurance companies. Motor insurance premiums vary considerably from company to company. We all have had experience of that. It is scandalous to see elderly people coming into my clinic and breaking down because of the pressure they have been put under in terms of them being concerned about being able to continue to drive and having heard that their insurance premium will double in price. I do not accept that we do not have a role in this because we do not interfere in these matters and that the Minister for Finance or the Central Bank does not have a role in dealing with this issue. They should be raising this issue with the insurance companies. There is no reason Ministers could not make representations pointing out that this practice is unacceptable. It is too serious an issue for many people for us not to act.

The Minister of State drew attention to the competition website where guidelines can be found. We have all had experience of searching for guidelines and having to go from one Department to another, but at some stage somebody in authority has to say to the insurance companies that they cannot do what they are doing. People get a breakdown of their insurance premium and companies have various reasons for adding a loading in different areas. It is obvious in a number of cases that elderly people are being loaded disproportionately compared to other motorists. That is unacceptable. Those who need their cars most are the elderly as they may be living in the middle of rural Ireland and have no public transport available and no other means of getting from A to B. They have to visit their families, which is important for their mental well-being. This is a major issue. It is disappointing that we do no have mechanism for dealing with this issue and that it is being kicked to touch and from Department to Department. That is very disappointing.

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