Ulick Burke (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 183: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she will make provision for the windscreen replacement sector in order that it may have access to a level playing field taking into account the fact that most insurance companies apply restrictive limits on consumers when they decide to choose their windscreen replacement repairer, when no such limits apply to the approved repairer nominated by the insurance companies; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47894/08]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy's question refers to particular practices engaged in by some insurance companies. I would advise the Deputy that insurance companies are regulated financial service providers within the meaning of the Central Bank Acts and as such are regulated by the Financial Regulator and that I have no specific function in that regard. I understand that the Financial Regulator, as part of its regulatory role, is entitled to examine the commercial practices of regulated financial service providers and the terms of their consumer contracts and to consider if they are unfair within the meaning of the relevant legislation. In this regard, the Deputy may wish to bring any particular concerns he may have in relation to specific practices of insurance companies to the attention of the Financial Regulator.