Marie Louise O'Donnell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I ask the Deputy Leader to invite the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Ross, here this morning because I want him to tell me what has happened with car insurance. Recently I was given a quote for my car insurance by telephone and was informed that it has doubled. I was shocked by the increase because I have not changed, I have not changed my car, I was not awarded penalty points and I have not been involved in an accident. I offer myself as a visual, aural and oral aid here to emphasise that this must be happening to thousands of people all over the country. I am shocked that willy-nilly and out of thin air one's insurance premium is doubled. When I tried to speak to the insurance company it felt like I was talking to the bottom of my shoe or something under my shoe because its staff were not interested. The cost of increase is an absolute disgrace and hikes in premia affect families, young people, people working and people in trade.

Deputy Ross is the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport but at the moment one would think he was the Minister for something else because his Bill on the Judiciary has the whole Senate enthralled. I would like him to come in here as the Minister of his due Department, which is the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport. I would like him to outline to me, as I asked my insurance company to do this morning, why insurance companies are getting away with this? What are the statistics? Why are they making such decisions? How do they make their decisions? Why do they pull numbers out of the air for people who have never caused a road collision or accident or anything that would increase their insurance costs, including penalty points?

I propose an amendment to the Order of Business. I ask that the Deputy Leader invites the Minister for Tourism, Transport and Sport to come here today as the Minister responsible for transport. I ask Senators to consider seconding my proposal.