Frank commented, “Recent findings published by the insurance industry has labelled half of all personal injury claims brought to court as “potentially fraudulent”. False and misleading claims have negative …consequences for Irish policyholders and drive up the cost of insurance premiums.”
“The cost of both motor insurance and business insurance remains stubbornly high for households and businesses across the country. The average annual cost of motor insurance now stands at €750 compared with €450 in 2014, an increase of nearly 70%.”
“Fianna Fail introduced the Civil Liability and Courts (Amendment) Bill 2018 last year. It passed the Second Stage in the Dáil, where it received unanimous support from all parties in the House, including government.”
“Our Bill is designed to combat the excessive costs of insurance for businesses and customers. It specifically gives Judges the power to pass information to the Director of Public Prosecution where a fraudulent claim has been made.”
“Reducing the high cost of Insurance is a priority for Fianna Fáil and for myself, it is an issue I have regularly brought to the floor of the Dail. It is unacceptable that after two years of the publication of the Cost of Insurance Working Group report, many of its recommendations have not been implemented. I am urging the Government to allow our Bill to proceed to Committee stage so that it can be enacted by the Oireachtas without any further delay and support An Garda Siochana establish an anti-insurance fraud unit in the force.”
“The government has been found wanting on insurance reform and tackling the high cost of insurance. This Government must provide greater focus on this issue and enacting our Bill would be one step towards achieving lower costs of insurance.”, Frank concluded.