Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent) | Oireachtas source

As part of its contingency planning, the Government has raised this matter directly with the European Commission, seeking agreement from it to set a date from which green cards would not be required. The setting of a date is possible under Article 8.2 of the motor insurance directive. The Commission has not given agreement to date and the Government continues to pursue the matter with it. The Commission advised the MIBI and the international Council of Bureaux that it is keeping the matter under close and constant review as part of its Brexit preparedness work. This is very important. Ireland has had discussions with the European Commission regarding Article 8 of the insurance directive but the final decision is with the Commission and Ireland is still pushing on that issue. We do not like it, and we have made it quite clear we do not like it, but it is there and we must live with it for the moment. We will push against it as hard as we can.

On Deputy Troy's issue, insurers and insurance brokers have advised they will begin issuing green cards to policyholders any day now.

I believe they have begun to issue them or will do so in March 2019. As preparation, the Motor Insurers Bureau of Ireland, MIBI, has printed green cards and distributed them to these organisations. It has indicated that approximately 1 million green cards have been sent to insurance companies and brokers. It is a matter for insurance brokers as private commercial organisations to determine whether there will be an administrative charge for the issuance of green cards. I answered this question already but I will answer it again. The Deputy said I did not answer it at the last committee meeting. I did. I answered questions on fees quite specifically. Neither the Government nor the Central Bank of Ireland has the power to regulate charges which may be made in this regard. It is an unwelcome development, but it is example of prudent advance planning on the part of the Motor Insurers Bureau of Ireland and the wider insurance industry.

It is important to remember that the green card is used as proof of insurance. People have been making a mistake in this regard, though I am sure Deputy Munster has not. It is not an insurance policy in itself. The vast majority of Irish motor insurance policies already include cover for travel in the UK. In such cases, drivers will continue to be insured to drive in the UK even in the event of a no-deal Brexit. However, they will need to carry a green card as proof of insurance if no other agreement is reached within the European Commission in the meantime. Not all policies may include such cover in the event of a no-deal Brexit. In that eventuality, drivers who may be travelling to or through Northern Ireland or Great Britain should check their motor insurance policies. If in doubt, they should check with their insurers that such travel will be covered. Enforcement of the law on motor insurance is a matter for An Garda Síochána. If a person is driving a UK vehicle in this jurisdiction following a no-deal Brexit he or she may be required by An Garda Síochána to produce a green card as proof of insurance. Driving uninsured is an offence. If a person who should have a green card does not, this may cause difficulties in proving that they have insurance. That is carefully worded. It is for the authorities in Northern Ireland to determine what enforcement measures regarding green cards might be taken in Northern Ireland in the event of the UK exiting the EU without a deal.

A clear message has been fairly well-publicised by the Road Safety Authority, the Department and the insurance bodies. The issuance of 1 million green cards reflects sudden and urgent demand. Adequate numbers of cards will be issued. I take the point that we need to use all outlets to make sure everybody knows they should get green cards.

In answer to Deputy Smith, I note that people resident in Ireland who use UK driving licences should seek to exchange their UK licence for an Irish licence before 29 March. This is advice is going out from all quarters and I think it is fairly well-known at this stage. We will put alternative arrangements in place post Brexit when the UK is a third country. To cover that particular point, visitors to Ireland with UK driving licences can drive on their UK licences in Ireland for up to 12 months. In the meantime we fully expect that perfectly adequate reciprocal arrangements will be made.

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