Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 37: To ask the Minister for Transport the efforts he has made with regard to clamping down on the number of uninsured drivers on roads here; if his attention has been drawn to the Irish Insurance Federation figures showing that uninsured drivers cost insured motorists an extra €45 per year on their policies; if the new traffic corps will target uninsured drivers; the efforts he is making to reduce the cost of car insurance in general; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9677/05]

Ivor Callely (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Under the Road Traffic Act 1961, it is an offence to "use in a public place a mechanically propelled vehicle unless ... there is in force at that time an approved policy of insurance". Penalties provided for include a maximum fine of €2,500, the imposition of five penalty points and the impounding of the vehicle. Enforcement is a matter for the Garda, including members of the traffic corps.

Government policy in respect of the cost and availability of motor insurance is to implement the recommendations of the Motor Insurance Advisory Board as set out in its first and final reports. Substantial progress has already been made on the recommendations including the introduction of the PIAB and the Civil Liability and Courts Act. The Central Statistics Office consumer price index shows that the cost of motor insurance has fallen by nine percentage points during the last calendar year and, since April 2003, the cost of motor insurance has fallen by 21%.

I propose to ask my Department officials to follow up on the outstanding MIAB recommendations and also to examine the recently published Competition Authority report with a view to sustaining and building on progress to date.