The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Cian’s input helps drive insurance cost re-think
ISSUE TO BE TACKLED BY END OF YEAR
KILLORGLIN’S Kian Griffin has welcomed Junior Finance Minister Eoghan Murphy’s pledge to tackle rising car insurance premiums before the year’s end.
The junior minister’s promise follows presentations to an Oireachtas committee from a number of individuals and groups, including from the 24-year-old Killorglin driver who has campaigned for a reduction in insurance costs.
Last week Junior Minister Murphy said that lowering car insurance is among the Taoiseach’s priorities, adding that, by the year’s end, fraudulent claimers will no longer be able to ‘play the system’, meaning that the cost of motor insurance will reduce.
The Junior Finance Minster hopes to introduce reforms, including a central database of all claims made and details of pay-outs, discounts for loyalty to an insurance company, and restrictions on opting out of the injuries board.
Kian recently made a presentation on the issue to the Oireachtas committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, which was attended by Junior Minister Murphy, Sinn Féin’s Pearse Doherty TD, and Irish Socialist Party’s Paul Murphy TD, amongst others.
“My presentation was one of three on the day. The other two were made by Age Action Ireland, and the AA, and even though I suppose we were representing different demographics, many of our suggestions were, surprisingly, similar”, he said.
“The Junior Minister’s suggestions take some of our ideas on board, and I’m also pleased that he wants to make reforms before the year is out. We were well received on the day, and it looks like the exercise was worthwhile.”
The Killorglin man says he’s also ‘encouraged’ at news that motor insurance providers have been issued summonses to appear before the Competition and Consumer Protection Commision to give evidence in relation to suspected contraventions of competition law.
The commission is to probe possible breaches where industry participants signalled upcoming hikes in premiums.
Isolde Goggin, Chairperson of the CCPC, said “statements by senior industry players have raised serious suspicion as to whether there is a link between these messages and subsequent price increases.
“The evidence collected through both the witness summonses and the information requests will assist us in establishing whether there has been a breach of competition law.”
Kian has campaigned rigorously against rising premiums, and was pleased with the interaction he had with the committee and Mr Murphy’s reaction.
According to the Central Statistics Office, some premiums have increased by almost 40 per cent this year.