Mullooly tells EU he is 'driven mad' by car insurance premiums

Midlands-North-West MEP Ciaran Mullooly has expressed his deep frustration over the glaring inconsistencies in car insurance premiums faced by motorists in Ireland and across Europe.

He highlighted that the European Community, established as a single market, was intended to foster a more competitive insurance landscape, benefiting over 400 million citizens. However, this vision has not been realised in Ireland, where car insurance costs continue to escalate annually, particularly affecting young drivers.

"Motorists all over Europe are being driven to disillusionment over the lack of consistency in the price being charged for insurance premia," the MEP said.

He noted that despite the single market's promise, "this has not materialised in my country." The price of car insurance continues to rise every year, with young drivers bearing the brunt of these increases.

To illustrate this disparity, Mullooly cited the case of Patrick O'Reilly from County Cavan, who could insure his 2020 Volkswagen Golf for €1,212 in Belgium but faces a staggering €4,679 in Ireland. Mullooly condemned this as "nothing short of a rip-off," asserting that "no amount of prevarication over injury claims or legal costs can excuse it."

He called upon the new Consumer Commissioner, Michael McGrath, to take decisive action.

"We need our new Consumer Commissioner, Michael McGrath, to be brave and seize on this issue, challenge the main players in Europe and make the single market work for European consumers," the MEP concluded.