Roads, NCT and insurance
Mattie McGrath raises rural road damage, then pivots to unfair insurance premiums despite valid NCT certificates. The exchange becomes heated as the Taoiseach says the insurance point was not a programme commitment and challenges the framing of the question.
I wish to raise another issue concerning rural Ireland. It relates to roads.
Comment on this
The programme for Government is strong on its commitment to support roads. The people, whether mothers or fathers, ordinary men or women or youngsters trying to get to school, work or college, must have a car. A significant amount of damage is being done to those cars, including to their wheels and tyres. I wish to raise another issue. These cars must pass the national car test, NCT, which we all support as it is a good system. These drivers get their certificates from the NCT and get their cars passed, their vehicles having suffered huge damage and having got them repaired at huge cost. Now they are being told by insurance companies that if the car is ten years old or older, even though it may have a valid NCT certificate passed only two days or a week earlier, they will not insure them. This is pure blackguarding and an attack on rural Ireland and rural drivers, as well as some urban drivers where the roads are bad. They are doing their best to keep within the law and now they are being told they will not be insured-----
Comment on this
-----despite their cars being perfect and having valid NCT certificates.
What is the Government going to do to rein in the insurance companies? This is "rip-off Ireland" carry-on again and blackguarding of the people of rural Ireland once more.
Comment on this
It relates to rural roads and investment in roads.
Comment on this
Yes. The Taoiseach has no answer for anything.