Danny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)

I thank Sinn Féin for giving us the opportunity to discuss the cost of insurance in the Chamber. We have done it many times before but I do not know if anyone has been listening to us. Clearly, there is not enough competition in the market. I honestly believe, and have said before, that when Seán Quinn was competing in the market for insurance and was an alternative, that was the only time that insurance costs came down. Clearly, it is because there is not enough competition.

Motorists are paying through the nose for insurance, especially young people. I always say we should give youngsters a chance. They might blot their copybook and misbehave when driving the car, which is a lethal weapon if not properly used, but we should give them a chance. Surely now that they are doing theory tests, lessons and so on, 99% of them behave properly. They should be given a chance. However, they are being driven down through the ground with the cost of insurance. It finishes up with their parents having to insure them on their policies because the children cannot get insurance themselves. It is sad that they do not get the chance, given they are being charged so much.

There are high costs for hauliers due to public liability, and the same goes for other businesses, such as taxis and bus operators. All of those people are paying savage sums. It is clear that the insurance companies are reaping the benefits and taking a lot more profit than they need to.

Businesses are suffering due to claims and there seems to be no regulation of what claims can amount to. Whiplash is common in the UK, where people are suffering after any kind of tip at all. There is a set price of about Stg£9,000 for whiplash in the UK whereas it can be up to €90,000 here. I do not say that people have brass necks; some of these people who operate the claims culture now have gold necks due to the money they claim and are awarded. It is very unfair on other people. The claims culture is increasing. I ask the Minister of State to look into this to see if there is any way it can be curbed.

The cost of private health insurance is an issue that I have raised before. The people who try to purchase private health insurance need to be applauded because they are paying towards the cost of maintaining their own health. However, we can see what happens. If someone who does not have health insurance goes into any hospital in the country tonight, the charge may be €70 or €80 for the night. Invariably, the hospital will ask the person if they have private health insurance and if so, the charge will be €800 or more for the night. That is not fair. It is driving up the cost for poor and elderly people who are paying for private health insurance, and for couples who are paying for their children by adding them to their policies as they come along. They are paying through the nose for it. That needs to be addressed.

Deputy Stanley referred to community events and voluntary organisations that put on shows in trying to retain their parish’s identity. Many of them have failed to get insurance cover, which is a disgrace. The Government should look into why they are being charged so much. It is not fair.

The insurance companies now have ways of looking up where people live. They can say that someone is living on a flood plain and many people do not get insurance even though their houses were never flooded. Just because they are near a flood plain could mean they are not covered by house insurance. That is not fair. I ask the Minister of State to look into this issue.

I have raised a number of issues, including young drivers, hauliers, bus operators, businesspeople and the fact there is no end to the amount of a claim. Another issue is that if somebody has an accident on the road, they will ring their insurance company. From that minute, the insurance is loaded even though blame has not yet been apportioned and it could be that the other driver was liable. However, I guarantee that the person’s policy will not come down next year. Once it goes up at all, up it will stay. I ask the Minister of State to look at that as well.

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