James Reilly (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

This is a very important Bill. I wish to take this opportunity to raise a number of issues that have come to my attention in recent weeks, one of which is the large numbers of individuals and small businesses that can no longer get insurance. I am aware of one individual who has been insured for 30 years. He has a number of shops but he was the subject of three claims in the past three years. His insurance increased from €7,000 to €35,000 last year. This year, the insurance provider will not provide him with cover. I am aware of an ever-increasing number of young drivers and others who are finding it difficult to obtain motor insurance. In one case, a small scrape three years ago amounting to €400 worth of damage means that the young professional involved is off the road because he cannot get insurance. While it is aimed purely at personal injuries on one level, I hope the Bill might afford the Department an opportunity to investigate what has been happening with motor insurance and insurance for small businesses in recent months. I do not want to rehearse all of the other issues we have discussed in the context of the Bill. However, I wish to state clearly that we need a review of the practices of motor and business insurance providers in this country.