Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Independent)
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292. To ask the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the practice of some insurers to refuse to quote people for car insurance solely on the basis of their address; if he will clarify the grounds on which insurers can refuse to quote potential customers; if he feels such practices are sufficiently conducive to the promotion of competition and consumer protection in the insurance industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34367/14]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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The provision of new insurance cover or the renewal of existing cover is a commercial matter for insurance companies, which is based on a proper assessment of the risks they are accepting and the need to make adequate provisioning to meet these risks.  Neither I, as Minister for Finance, nor the Central Bank of Ireland have the power to direct insurers to provide cover to specific individuals or to accept particular risks.  Consumer issues are covered by the Central Bank's Consumer Protection Code which amongst other things sets out a series of general principles about how financial service firms (including all insurance companies) should interact with their customers.

Ireland  operates a Declined Cases Agreement, which isadhered to by all motor insurers in Ireland.  Under the agreement, the insurance market will not refuse to provide insurance to an individual seeking insurance, if he or she has approached at least three insurers and has not been able to obtain cover from them.  The only grounds on which an insurer can refuse cover are where to provide insurance would be contrary to public interest.

This agreement is administered by a Committee comprising representatives of each of the companies who have signed the agreement. The Committee also includes a representative of the Consumers' Association of Ireland and the Financial Services Ombudsman's Bureau as external observers.  The Committee can also decide whether a quote is so high or the terms so excessive as to make the quote tantamount to a refusal, in which case it will review the matter.  For information on the Declined Cases Agreement contact Insurance Ireland at (01) 676 1914 or by email at