Danny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am grateful to Deputy Doherty and Sinn Féin for bringing forward this very important Bill. All of us have spoken so many times before about the insurance industry and the unfairness that is going on. Those who drive taxis, buses, and commercial lorries are all penalised, as are businesses such as publicans and young people who have done nothing wrong. They deserve to get a chance, but they honestly do not. They have not been getting a chance and I am afraid they will not get a chance. When elderly people and young people have cars that exceed ten years of age the insurance companies invariably tell them they cannot be insured. They will not insure them even though they have a valid NCT or MOT. What is missing out of the frame is that the insurance companies have a monopoly. Whatever they say about Mr. Quinn, we were able to pay for insurance when he was there, but now whatever they get is not enough.

The big worry for many people and businesses is that they will not even get a quote for next year. That is very wrong. They are people who are employing others and who have done very little wrong. I see what insurance companies are doing. They are paying out and not contesting claims at all. One insurance company told me it would have to give money to a man because he was a customer of the company's as well. He did not deserve money. That is the truth of it. He did not deserve what he got, but someone had to pay a dear claim and it put up his insurance because of the actions of the insurance companies.

It is very evident to me that the insurance companies and the banks are destroying young people. They are not giving them a chance to either put a roof over their heads or to put a car on the road. Young people are entitled to get a chance to go on the road and if they blot their copybook, then peg the book at them but give them a chance to go on the road, which they are not getting.

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