Eamon Scanlon (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank my colleague, Deputy Michael McGrath, for tabling this motion. We all know what is happening. There are two companies in my part of the constituency, in south Sligo, including a haulage company which employs 45 people and has an insurance cost this year of €135,000. There are 45 jobs at risk there and there is no question about it. In the hospitality industry, there is a small hotel which had insurance of €30,000. It has gone up to €65,000 this year. There is no question that unless this is dealt with very quickly, jobs will be lost and businesses will go out of business. With regard to motor insurance, I have a renewal certificate here. This company, AXA, is one of the most reputable companies in the country. Condition No. 3 on this certificate addresses limitations as to use, stating that it includes use for social, domestic and pleasure purposes, excluding cover for commuting to work. In the name of God, where are we going? This is in the small print of this insurance policy and this person needs a car to get to work. This is going on, and if people have an accident, they do not record it to ensure they retain their no-claims bonuses.

We heard insurance companies say that we have the penalty points system in place and that it will bring down the cost of insurance. It has not brought down the cost of insurance because people over 30 years of age with no penalty points are still paying much more than they were paying last year and the year before.

The Personal Injuries Assessment Board, PIAB, which was brought in maybe six or seven years ago, worked for a while and can work again but I understand that it has been bypassed by the legal profession. That needs to be looked at. These insurance companies should be brought into an Oireachtas committee and the questions should be put to them.

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