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Dail begins its second stage debate on @PearseDoherty's anti-dual-pricing bill re insurance premiums
Introducing his bill, Doherty says "the game is up" for the insurance industry. Dual pricing, for the uninitiated, sees long-standing customers offered higher premiums than those who shop around
Martin Kenny takes issue with the "price-gorging" of the insurance companies
Junior minister at Dept Finance Sean Fleming says the bill is "not the correct solution at this time". He says the bill doesn't deal with the correct issue, dual pricing versus differential pricing, and says passing it would "negatively affect" those who do shop around
Fleming says the Govt will consider a Central Bank inquiry on the subject of dual pricing when it is published. Says Sinn Fein's legislation re differential pricing precludes discounts being offered to customers
Adds that it would "reduce Ireland's attractiveness" in terms of attracting international insurers to do business here
Should be noted such pricing has been banned in 20 US states, and will shortly be banned in the UK. No other EU State has sought to ban it to the extent proposed by Sinn Fein, Fleming says
Says for all these reasons the Govt is looking to put the bill back by 9 months
Mairead Farrell, SF Galway, is very annoyed with Fleming. Expresses herself "very disappointed". Comments that rural drivers have no choice but to be gouged at present. Mentions a constituent who was quoted €1,500 by one company, €750 by another for a premium
Pauline Tully SF notes that not everyone is able to check prices the same way as others, and that even if they can it's a "pain in the neck"
The chief argument for dual pricing, btw, would appear to be that it allows barter discounts for those who shop around. Sort of a 'that's the system, that's how it has always worked'
Your writer, for what it's worth, was quoted €250 more for a renewal, with no claims, by company I'd been with for 10 years last year. I refused, so did they, I moved company, and the price actually went down. Something's not right there
Ged Nash says the legislation "is not perfect", but nevertheless commends the "unquestionable" work which Doherty has done on the topic
Nash - "Reality is most people don't have the time or the resources to do what's necessary." Says the "insulting best advice from the Government isn't good enough, to shop around, that there's plenty of value out there"
Nash notes that Irish consumers rarely switch, be it banking, mobile phone, gas and electric. "There's a clear pattern here. It's not because they're lazy, it's because they lack the time and resources to keep up with complex financial products and offers"
Roisin Shortall says the Social Democrats will support the legislation, says its "most welcome", commends Doherty for his work
Shortall says the bill will be "wholeheartedly" supported by the Soc Dems
So, Labour and the Soc Dems supporting (of course, a vote won't be taken today cos of ongoing restrictions and reduced attendance sittings)
Richard Boyd Barrett says he is "just bored" of the Government's arguments against delaying reform. "And what happened? Nothing really happened."
Paul Murphy notes that regardless of Fleming's suggestion that the bill deals with the wrong thing, the Central Bank itself tends to use the phrases 'dual pricing' and 'differential pricing' interchangeably
Strong from Peadar Toibin: "How long have we been talking about insurance in the Dail? There is a reluctance in Govt to do anything. Fine Gael is supposed to be the party of the free market? More like the dysfunctional market"
Michael Healy Rae: "Anyone not supporting this legislation today will have a big question to answer in their constituencies"
Danny Healy Rae: "Not since Sean Quinn are we getting a fair crack of the whip on insurance" 
