asked the Minister for Industry, Trade, Commerce and Tourism if he is aware that many motor car insurance companies are now refusing to renew insurance policies for customers who have been convicted and sentenced to disqualification from driving for a temporary period and that many of these customers will never again be able to obtain motor insurance under their own names; and if he intends to introduce some form of legislation to regularise this anomaly.

I am not aware of any general practice by insurers of refusing to provide cover for persons who have been temporarily disqualified from driving for offences under the Road Traffic Acts, after the period of disqualification is ended.

If the Deputy is aware of any individual who is experiencing difficulty in this area my Department can investigate the matter and refer the case to the declined cases committee if appropriate. This committee was set up in June 1982 and deals with cases of inability to obtain motor insurance.

Is the Minister in a position to tell us the number of cases referred to the declined cases committee? Under the terms of the declined cases agreement insurers may not refuse to provide cover except where such provision would be deemed to be against the public interest. How many cases were deemed not to be in the public interest?

The provisions have been invoked by the declined cases committee on one occasion only, and for very good and valid reasons.

While they may be obligated to provide insurance cover, are there any controls as to the amount of premium they can require?

There is a price control mechanism for motor insurance and companies have loadings for such things as convictions, age and so on. Any complaints regarding excess charges for premiums should be notified to my Department. They will be immediately investigated and corrected if necessary.

That is a separate question.

6.