Thomas Gould (Cork North-Central, Sinn Fein)

I will be honest; this is mind-boggling. Insurance companies have been ripping off the Irish people for as long as I can remember. I am 57 years of age. I have been driving for 39 years and for 39 years these companies have ripped off me and everyone else in this State. People are struggling with the cost of living. They are struggling to put food on the table, to pay the rent and to keep the lights on and everyone needs to get to work, school, college or hospital appointments. You cannot depend on public transport. I live in Cork city, the second city in this State. Even in the cities, you cannot depend on public transport. You need to have a car if you need to get to appointments, work or college. The Government is allowing the insurance companies to laugh at the Irish people and to rip them off year in and year out. Deputy Doherty has brought forward facts and figures. He has outlined how these companies have ripped off the Irish people. He has brought forward Bills to tackle this rip-off. What is it? Why will the Government not tackle them? Are there vested interests involved? Is the Government afraid of upsetting the apple cart? What is the issue here?

I have a daughter who is 19 years old. She has just learned how to drive. A couple of weeks ago, she passed her driving test on the first attempt, which is brilliant. She is going to college. She is doing a small bit of work part-time and going to college as well. Without me and her mother, she could not afford the insurance to drive our cars. I have a good job. I am a Teachta Dála. What about the other families out there? My wife is a schoolteacher. What about ordinary people who are on the average industrial wage or lower-income people? How are they supposed to survive? They must pay for car insurance, home insurance and all of these things.

The Minister of State is getting his answers from his officials. Deputy Doherty has given him the answers but he has turned a blind eye time and again. It is time the rip-off is stopped. It is time the insurance companies are tackled. It is time this Government stood up on this issue once and for all.

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