Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Renua Ireland)
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172. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on a matter regarding car insurance premiums (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33565/15]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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​CSO statistics show that, as at August 2015, the cost of motor insurance remains 6% below the prevailing level in 2003.  However, the increase over the past year has been 24%.  This appears to reflect the end of a period of intense price competition between insurers which may have resulted in underwriting losses in some cases.

The insurance market is a competitive market and it is a commercial matter for individual insurance companies to decide what products they will offer or not as the case may be.  The EU framework for insurance prohibits Member States adopting rules which require the prior approval or systematic notification of certain matters, including general and special policy conditions and scales of premiums.  Insurance companies consider a number of risks when determining the premiums for proposed insurance policies.  A premium is based on the actuarial calculation of risk, which can take into account the age of the vehicle.  

In the event of not being able to secure a motor insurance quotation, Insurance Ireland operates a free Insurance Information Service for those with queries, complaints or difficulties in relation to obtaining insurance. If a person is unable to obtain a quotation for motor insurance or feels that the premium proposed or the terms are so excessive that it amounts to a refusal to give them motor insurance, they should contact Insurance Ireland, 5 Harbourmaster Place, IFSC, Dublin 1 Tel. 01.6761820 quoting the Declined Cases Agreement. Under the Agreement, the Declined Cases Committee of Insurance Ireland deals with any cases of difficulty in obtaining motor insurance.