Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

646. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when this Deputy will recieve a detailed reply to an issue referred to his Department on 7 September 2016 (details supplied); the reason for the delay in this matter; the amount of correspondence received by his Department before this date generally that has not been replied to; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7315/17]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

A final reply has now issued to the Deputy in relation to the issue raised.  The delay was due to the very significant workload within the Road Safety Division of my Department including work related to the Cost of Insurance Working Group and its subgroups.

  The Deputy's correspondence related to a person who did not have Irish or EU residency, but maintains a holiday home and car in Ireland, and spends a few months of the year in Ireland who has experienced difficulty in insuring his car here.

  My Department raised the particular issue with the Department of Finance last month, following the publication of the Report on the Cost of Motor Insurance.  The Department of Finance have noted the broad issue as one which is appropriate for their discussions with the insurance industry and Insurance Ireland in particular over the coming months regarding relevant actions in the Report for which Department of Finance have lead responsibility concerning motor insurance for persons coming to and returning to Ireland from abroad.

The Deputy will also be aware that there is a Declined Cases Agreement mechanism, which is used  where a person has been refused motor insurance by a number of insurers.  Under the Central Bank's 'General Good Requirements for Insurance and Reinsurance Undertakings', all motor insurers operating in the State must abide by the Declined Cases Agreement.  If a person is unable to obtain a quotation for motor insurance, they should contact Insurance Ireland, 5 Harbourmaster Place, IFSC, Dublin 1, DO1 E7E8 quoting the Declined Cases Agreement email: declined@insuranceireland.eu Tel: 01 676 1914.  The Declined Cases Committee of Insurance Ireland deals with any cases of difficulty in obtaining motor insurance.