asked the Minister for Industry, Trade, Commerce and Tourism the steps he proposes to take to insist that motor insurers provide the consumer with a complete breakdown of renewal premiums and generally revert to less fragmented rating structures and that there be a greater simplicity in the wording of policy documents, so that policy-holders will know exactly what is and is not covered by their policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

I am informed that in general insurers do provide a breakdown of renewal premiums giving details of gross premiums and no claims discounts applicable and that where further details are requested these will be provided where reasonably possible. As for the rating structures these are examined on the occasion of price increase applications and where any rating scheme is unduly fragmented, this can be taken up with the insurer.

The Department have taken up the points referred to by the Deputy with the insurers' representative body and will continue to do so. The insurers have assured me that they appreciate the desirability of clarity and simplicity in the wording of policy documents, but given that the policy is a legal document there are limits to how far one can go.

Does the Minister agree that some of the renewal documents received by the public from certain insurers can be very confusing? I will not go as far as to say that they are misleading but the language is often couched in terms which they find difficult to understand. Would the Minister consider recommending to the insurers that they should issue a simplified version on third party and comprehensive cover which would be clearly understood and applicable to all insurance companies?

I sympathise and agree with the Deputy and I can assure him that my Department are in touch with insurers to try to make these documents as simple and clear as possible. However, one must accept that you can only go so far in simplifying legal documents.

Could the Minister tell the House when he was last in touch with the insurers in the hope that they would collectively do what he has stated to be his objective?

The Deputy will be pleased to note that I raised this matter when I addressed The Insurance Institute of Ireland in Galway last week——

I am pleased that my question had the desired effect.

I had accepted the invitation to go to Galway before Deputy Flynn put down his question but he can take it that my officials are in touch with the industry at present.

When were they in touch with the insurance companies?

I know my officials were in touch with them before I went to Galway so the Deputy may take it that they had also been in touch with them earlier in the year.

14.