Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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63. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on concerns of taxi drivers and the costs of car insurance; and his further views on the fact that many taxis are being priced out of the sector which will create a shortfall in services. [25314/18]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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I agree that the increases in premium costs of motor insurance in recent years has certainly been a cause for concern for all drivers, including the owners of Small Public Service Vehicles (SPSVs). However, recent CSO figures show overall motor premiums for the year 2018 as being lower in comparison to those for the previous two years.

As you may know, 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 of insurance products.

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 SPSVs met with Insurance Ireland on 22 May 2017 to discuss motor insurance costs relating to the taxi industry and a report on same was presented to me on 21 June. I have forwarded that report to the Minister of State at the Department of Finance and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, Michael D'Arcy, TD who is the chair of the aforementioned Working Group. The Advisory Committee on SPSVs and Insurance Ireland have agreed that there should be ongoing engagement between them and it is my hope that this cooperation and engagement will help to address the concerns of taxi drivers regarding motor insurance issues including the cost of same.

Insurance Ireland operates a free insurance information service for those who have queries, complaints or difficulties in 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.euor by post at 5 Harbourmaster Place, IFSC, Dublin 1 - quoting the Declined Cases Agreement.