Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 2 May 2017
267. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the false figures for the number of Garda breath tests having had an impact on the rising cost of car insurance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20004/17]
View answerI am aware of the recent public revelation that the number of roadside drink-driving breathalyser tests undertaken nationally between 2011 and early 2016 has been exaggerated by An Garda Síochána. However, I am not aware of any evidence that shows these exaggerated numbers have had an impact on the increases that have been seen in the general cost of motor insurance. Indeed, since the revelation has been made public, CSO figures show that motor insurance costs have levelled month on month since the start of this year.
As part of a Inter-Departmental review of policy in the insurance sector, I established the Cost of Insurance Working Group, chaired by Minister of State Eoghan Murphy T.D. Its recent report on the cost of motor insurance found that the recent increases in motor insurance premiums were due to a number of factors including a cross-industry re-balancing process following a period when premiums were widely under-priced, growth in the frequency and cost of settling claims, and a significant rise in the levels of reserves set aside for claims expected to be paid in the future. For more information on this matter the Deputy should review Chapter 3 of the Report see the following link. http://www.finance.gov.ie/sites/default/files/170110%20Report%20on%20the%20Cost%20of%20Motor%20Insurance%202017.pdf.
