Denise Mitchell (Dublin Bay North, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to speak on this Bill. It will benefit so many people, and I thank my colleague, Deputy Pearse Doherty, for bringing it to the floor of the Dáil. The culture of insurance companies ripping off their customers is an issue with which we are all very familiar. This Bill seeks to change that culture and pass on the savings to customers because it is the right thing to do. Insurance companies have used rising claims to justify price hikes over recent years, but not passing the savings on to customers is unfair and unjust. It is the insurance industry moving the goalposts to protect its profits. The sector is speaking out of both sides of its mouth. Its only motivation seems to be crazy profits off the backs of people who cannot afford to pay what they are paying. The Bill seeks to make things better for drivers, businesses and homeowners who are being ripped off. Young people are being priced off the road. Childcare facilities are getting quoted out of existence or being refused insurance completely. The average working person is getting robbed by these companies, and this Bill in some way will change that. It is about fairness and protecting the consumer. It is time the industry was held to account and was transparent with the people. The Minister of State has to act. Kicking the can down the road is not in the interest of anybody except insurance companies.

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