Young insurance lobby group warns politicians

24 June 2002: The insurance lobby group for young drivers, MIJAG, has warned that it may again support candidates in elections if the issue of high insurnace premiums is not resolved.

Mick Murphy, national organiser for the group, said they are in a ‘wait and see’ situation over the summer, pending the report of the Implementation Body of the Motor Insurance Advisory Board.

The Government has made the implelementation of the recommendations of the report part of its five-year Programme for Government.

“The very reasonable MIJAG demand for everyone who has no safety-related driving offences, to pay less than 1,000 euros, including beginners, is still a long way off,” says Mick Murphy. “For now we will wait a few months to see if there are any significant developments.

“The idea of going head-on with the politicians in elections is now well established in the minds of MIJAG supporters. The four MIJAG backed candidates in the election all got over 1,000 votes and may run again on this issue if it is not resolved satisfactorily.”

MIJAG has also expressed its concerns about claimed increases in moped insurance last year, from 900 euros to 1,900 euros. Such vehicles do not require insurance in many European countries.

June 2002