Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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263. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the problems being caused for taxi drivers by increasing motor insurance premiums for taxis; his plans to address this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6349/18]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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In general terms, the increased premium costs of motor insurance for all drivers in recent years is certainly cause for concern. It is clear that this, particularly in the couple of years up to 2016, has also affected those working within the small public service vehicle industry.  I am informed that there some early signs that this trend is beginning to regress, with recent CSO figures showing that motor premiums generally were 14% lower in September 2017 compared with a year earlier.

The pricing of insurance products is a commercial issue for insurance companies, based on an assessment of the risks that they are willing to accept. This position is reinforced by the EU framework for insurance which expressly prohibits Member States from adopting rules which require insurance companies to obtain prior approval of the pricing or terms and conditions on which insurance products are offered.

Notwithstanding this, I am keenly aware of how insurance issues are affecting the taxi industry. As you may be aware, the Department of Finance Working Group's Report on the Cost of Motor Insurance was published in January 2017. Based on recommendations from this report, the Advisory Committee on Small Public Service Vehicles (SPSVs) met with Insurance Ireland on 22 May to discuss cost of motor insurance issues relating to the taxi industry and a report on same was issued to me on 21 June 2017. I have forwarded the report to Minister of State Michael D'Arcy, who is the chair of the aforementioned Working Group. That Group is already pursuing many of the recommendations arising from the meeting, and I understand that the Advisory Committee on Small Public Service Vehicles plans to have further meetings with Insurance Ireland.  It is my hope that the work of the Cost of Insurance Working Group, together with the good cooperation and engagement between the Advisory Committee on SPSVs and the insurance industry, will deliver better rates for all motorists including taxi drivers.

Insurance Ireland operates a free insurance information service for those who have queries, complaints or difficulties in relation to obtaining insurance. All calls regarding refusal to quote, or quotations that are so excessive as to be in effect a refusal, should be directed to Insurance Ireland by phone at (01) 676 1820, by email at declined@insuranceireland.eu or by post at 5 Harbourmaster Place, IFSC, Dublin 1 quoting the Declined Cases Agreement.