Eugene Murphy (Roscommon-Galway, Fianna Fail)
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129. To ask the Minister for Finance if the ongoing situation in which persons seeking car insurance policies who wish to pay by direct debit are being charged a further 20% on top of the premium price by a company (details supplied) will be investigated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22080/18]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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The circumstances in which the 20 per cent additional charge referred to in this question may arise are not clear from the question. The European Union (Payment Services) Regulations 2018, which transposed the revised Payment Services Directive, prohibit a payee from requesting an additional charge from a consumer for using a SEPA direct debit. However, it is possible to apply other charges; for example an administrative fee, a service fee, or a fee where payment is made by instalments.

I am informed by the Central Bank that it has no remit over the pricing of insurance policies. However, the Consumer Protection Code 2012 requires that a regulated entity must provide a consumer, prior to providing a product or service to that consumer, with a breakdown of all charges, including third party charges, which will be passed on to the consumer. The Central Bank is responsible for ensuring compliance with this code.