In the programme for Government there was a commitment to bringing down the costs of motor insurance. Young people have been treated like road hogs over the past three years, given how the costs of insurance have increased. They are not road hogs, but good citizens of this country, and they need their cars to get to work, particularly those living in rural areas.

They have now targeted new victims, namely the elderly. I have had many contacts from elderly people, pensioners and people aged over 70, who are supporting young families by bringing children to school and to sports, where their car insurance has doubled. This is wrong and should not be allowed to happen. It is time we had more competition in the insurance market because people are being ripped off. It is unfair to do this to elderly people. They have never had an insurance claim in their lives and have been driving safely for 50 years, yet their premiums have doubled.

I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. The cost of motor insurance is one of great concern to his constituents and mine.

The Minister of State, Deputy D’Arcy, is leading the Government's action on this and has done much work on it. Motor insurance premiums rose all the way up until the middle of 2016. According to the Central Statistics Office, CSO, they have fallen about 20% since then. I know that is not the case with every individual’s premium but in the round they have fallen 20% since the middle of 2016. We want them to fall further, however. Accordingly, the Minister of State is implementing the recommendations from his action plan with 58 of the 71 completed. That will continue.

I agree more competition would be welcome in the market.