tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63876408995530675122024-03-20T07:42:48.182+00:00Ireland UndergroundThe young drivers forumKian Griffinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03044093181652045823noreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6387640899553067512.post-60613689384866900502019-09-28T13:04:00.002+01:002019-09-28T13:04:44.601+01:00Is dual-pricing ripping you off? What can you do about it? My thoughts on the current state of the insurance market.Sinn Fein TD, Pearse Doherty, this week raised the issue of <a href="https://www.independent.ie/business/personal-finance/central-bank-is-set-to-be-quizzed-on-insurance-ripoff-38539204.html" target="_blank">dual-pricing by motor insurance providers</a>. He gave the simple example of him applying his details when looking for a new quote and getting a much cheaper price than that offered on his renewal quote.<br />
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This is an exploitative practice which takes advantage of you and punishes your loyalty. Here's the kicker, they're all doing it. You can shop around and maybe get a better deal with someone else but you can be guaranteed in a year or two you'll be facing the same situation. The trouble is, there isn't enough competition in the Irish insurance market to really combat their ability to exploit you. Because it's law, you have to get your motor insurance from a very select group so the threat of you taking your business elsewhere doesn't exactly hold water because someone else will be stepping in to pay the premium you've just declined. It is, even without the intent, a cartel.<br />
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It's a never ending merry-go-round that few in government seem willing to put the brakes on. The way I see it, there are three options that those in power could go for.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiczBHGBOSl40H2_P1XWaPxb4iyT79SUSGi6biSeq0qAKilOr69cSiPLs3l2m1IOMX-4Pqn32rrWtpaSCrxIP1bh_W9pRwGnh3VrLxncSLt5iH03zTcXxE1OLSN34jA8QcGe2GjdRyQ2Y4/s1600/32677463127_c35606cdf0_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiczBHGBOSl40H2_P1XWaPxb4iyT79SUSGi6biSeq0qAKilOr69cSiPLs3l2m1IOMX-4Pqn32rrWtpaSCrxIP1bh_W9pRwGnh3VrLxncSLt5iH03zTcXxE1OLSN34jA8QcGe2GjdRyQ2Y4/s200/32677463127_c35606cdf0_b.jpg" width="200" /></a>1. Increase competition. This is the most obvious one but requires a major cutting of the judicial and out-of-court awards. Getting more companies into the market gives consumers more choice and will enforce a form of self-regulation. Foreign companies, however, are put off the the absolute chaos that is the Irish insurance system at the moment. Who in their right mind would want to set up a new insurance business here given the enormity of our court awards?<br />
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2. Open up the EU market. We can buy clothes, tech and food from across the EU, why not include insurance in that as well? Insurance costs, particularly motor insurance, are much cheaper on the continent. Simply allowing us to purchase from Spain, Germany etc could be a potential option. The trouble with it? Insurance is a financial product and would require synchronising our financial markets with our EU neighbours. Given the ongoing battle surrounding our corporate tax rate, I can't see our government TDs going anywhere near it.<br />
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3. Change the insurance system entirely. This would require a constitutional change and therefore a referendum, but it could be done. We could implement a system of insurance whereby the basic level of insurance (third party) is paid for out of general taxation or a levy on fuel. It would require a governmental insurance department to run it and resolve claim issues etc. In effect a public-owned insurance company. Private companies could offer supplementary products like fully-comp insurance which motorists would no longer be obliged to purchase.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKkADYgKam8IjvuN7L7Ly2RinQ8LqFmrwBQMHvYkodeSjGfHYqDSQlJHTlOD2MDqigQ0N-YVwTqrbiVtKUKcwvg5rZsFgCzj0eimXJTzOeYKWgpvG-cN-PXNlad6vCtunkukEFlNBHr2w/s1600/image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="106" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKkADYgKam8IjvuN7L7Ly2RinQ8LqFmrwBQMHvYkodeSjGfHYqDSQlJHTlOD2MDqigQ0N-YVwTqrbiVtKUKcwvg5rZsFgCzj0eimXJTzOeYKWgpvG-cN-PXNlad6vCtunkukEFlNBHr2w/s200/image.jpg" width="200" /></a>The third option would be my preference. Given that motor insurance is required by law, I think it is only right that those who apply the law offer the coverage. Private companies are driven entirely by profit. Normally I have no issue with that, but when you force your populace to purchase their product, it lends itself to exploitation. The initial argument against this would be job losses. The insurance companies would threaten cuts etc. But if done right, those jobs would simply be moved to the public sector rather than the private sector. Also, given how many companies are closing these days due to the ridiculous public liability insurance prices, if we expand this system of insurance to incorporate this, it would lead to an increase in jobs instead.<br />
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This system would require constitutional change to enact, but it can work if the political will is there.<br />
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If you're reading this, I ask a simple favour of you. Please email your local TD, their email address can be found at https://www.whoismytd.com. If you wish, simply forward this article to them and ask that they look it over.<br />
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<br />Kian Griffinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03044093181652045823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6387640899553067512.post-66164634623826850312019-05-25T14:30:00.000+01:002019-05-25T14:30:28.573+01:00Does dodgy suit by TD point to greater societal issue?By now we will all have seen the case being brought to the courts by Fine Gael TD Maria Bailey following her fall from a swing in a Dublin hotel. I, as have many of you reading this, have been rightly outraged at the case. Given the intense focus on fraudulent and exaggerated insurance claims in the media, it was shortsighted of her at the very least, arrogant at worst, to proceed with such a frivolous suit.<br />
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Since the story first broke, I've seen hundreds of comments on social media regarding it. Not a single one in support of her case, all outraged at an elected representative contributing the ongoing insurance crisis. Many decrying the fact that a TD feels she should have been "supervised" while using a swing, something most of us master by the age of 4. She has been condemned in the strongest of terms and rightly so. Our elected representatives have to be held to a higher standard than the rest of us in my view. Herein lies the issue.<br />
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The "rest of us" are the ones driving this compo culture. We are the ones who permit this culture to fester and grow. I have seen people being congratulated after a minor car accident in advance of a guaranteed windfall. I've seen people encouraged to get a solicitor after tripping in a shop.<br />
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"Sure you may as well for the few quid" is the justification for it. It's easy to see the appeal. How can people not be tempted by an almost guaranteed €20,000 for a minor bump on the road? How could we not have our head turned by such a windfall?<br />
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I myself have seen the temptation. Last summer I fell and dislocated my knee in a bar, spent the night in A&E and a month in a cast. I was encouraged by others to take a suit against them. Knowing the insurance market like I do, I know I would have got a sizeable payout had I pursued this. Of course, given my history, it would have been highly hypocritical of me to do such a thing. I did wonder however, had I not been so heavily involved in the insurance campaign, would I have been tempted? I'd like to think I have enough integrity that I would have accepted the fall was my own fault either way. But the lure of an extra 5,10 or 20 thousand euros is not easily resisted for many.<br />
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We all know these claims add to the problem. But when it's brought down to an individual level then it's rare we see the woods through the trees. We tend to think of ourselves and what we can gain in the here and now when these "opportunities" are presented to us. At that moment, the greater issue doesn't register with us. All we think of is the chance to pay off some debts or go on holiday. When we're presented with these outrageous figures for minor incidents that don't or didn't have any major impact on our lives. It's easy money really.<br />
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That being said, those dishing out the rewards are more to blame in my view. It's not even the size of the rewards in most cases that irks me. It's the laughable cases that are deemed deserving of them. If you've been hit by a car and end up with a broken arm or other similar injury, fair enough. In this case, you should definitely claim and if it's €20,000 or €30,000 you get then fine. However, if you slip on a floor, or fall off a swing, high awards for such a thing cannot be tolerated. We need our laws to acknowledge that accidents are sometimes just that, accidents. There is not always someone to blame.<br />
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We cannot expect that people will stop looking out for themselves. This compo culture is too far gone to expect it to sort itself out. It needs to start at the top. Award levels and frequency simply have to be reduced, there is no alternative any more. There is no silver bullet that will sort out this insurance crisis but this would be a damn good place to start.Kian Griffinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03044093181652045823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6387640899553067512.post-45915423785715537522018-07-17T18:43:00.000+01:002018-07-17T18:43:17.865+01:00Ireland Underground Condemns Latest Insurance LevyDespite assurances that it is working towards stabilising and reducing the cost of insurance for embattled Motorists, it has been reported today that the Government is set to introduce another 2% levy on top of premiums.<br />
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The levy, a response to the collapse of Setanta Insurance, is set to last for 7 years. This is yet another example of the governments lack of consideration for cash-strapped motorists who have been burdened with ever increasing costs for a number of years now. After progress implementing the recommendations of the cost of insurance working group ground to a halt, it seems as if this latest decision signals a complete about-turn in the governments efforts to alleviate some of the financial strain on all categories of motorist.<br />
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Ireland Underground condemns this decision in the strongest possible terms. It is an inconsiderate move by the government to force motorists to pick up the tab for the mistakes of a private business and those who regulate the insurance market.Kian Griffinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03044093181652045823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6387640899553067512.post-43480603762980866222018-04-08T10:43:00.000+01:002018-04-08T10:43:00.595+01:00Minister being misled by insurance companies regarding tracking devicesJunior minister for finance Michael D'Arcy has <a href="http://www.thejournal.ie/young-drivers-car-insurance-3937909-Apr2018/" target="_blank">recently been quoted</a> as saying that young drivers should have tracking devices installed in their cars to help reduce premiums by 50%. According to the minister, young drivers are "choosing to pay a higher premium" rather than use telematic devices on their vehicle.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgebj1nUGATbClDbrGjqVu1NfWrKc9NfGH1EuWd_fe3ZchcUoPNsLb6i4ciQIr-4P4W5YG9N3Hdv0hjZOAmZkBGWW861biIT3GilXonI_JOTCgsPfWigA7cS1c6J5iZptL8Ir2ToB5A4ME/s1600/Global-Automotive-Telematics-Market-thegem-blog-default.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="1170" height="145" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgebj1nUGATbClDbrGjqVu1NfWrKc9NfGH1EuWd_fe3ZchcUoPNsLb6i4ciQIr-4P4W5YG9N3Hdv0hjZOAmZkBGWW861biIT3GilXonI_JOTCgsPfWigA7cS1c6J5iZptL8Ir2ToB5A4ME/s320/Global-Automotive-Telematics-Market-thegem-blog-default.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
This information is presumably being supplied to the minister from the insurance companies, however, the facts on the ground appear to directly contradict this. In a single post on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/irlunderground/" target="_blank">our Facebook page</a> we have shown numerous instances of these devices either making no difference to premiums at all, or being too inconsistent to be reliable. Short journeys are not accepted for many companies, others threaten you with cancellation of your policy if you do not meet their minimum mileage requirements, others still charge you more if you go over their maximum mileage allowed.<br />
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To say that young drivers are "refusing" to use this technology is grossly unfair and naive on the ministers part.<br />
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"Tracking devices will not change the extortionate rates young drivers are charged, regulation will", according to Sinn Fein Councillor, Toireasa Ferris.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB-FsEwf_iTfGHCkxBWLu14Atdwsc66yqFNMUum518bwt9sDqt-4sCmy2WCwc1GWBN6NMlc8H5VgJao3fmlaU9UCfVVpu1JTbvo2N-M3yEu_Q932AZ4mp2S5pJ8_fzr5iwkzrH6ajLzHE/s1600/iStock_000010015899_Small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="565" data-original-width="849" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB-FsEwf_iTfGHCkxBWLu14Atdwsc66yqFNMUum518bwt9sDqt-4sCmy2WCwc1GWBN6NMlc8H5VgJao3fmlaU9UCfVVpu1JTbvo2N-M3yEu_Q932AZ4mp2S5pJ8_fzr5iwkzrH6ajLzHE/s200/iStock_000010015899_Small.jpg" width="200" /></a>Councillor Ferris insists that the ministers efforts would be better used "establishing a mutual insurance fund or regulating the private insurance sector".<br />
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Despite CSO statistics showing the average cost of motor insurance declining in the last 12-18 months, many individuals, particularly younger drivers are still paying sky-high premiums and struggling to get on the road. It is particularly difficult for those in rural areas where public transport is not an option.<br />
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The department of finance has been dragging its feet on this matter for far too long, it has had numerous submissions over the last 2 years with various options for tackling the extortionate cost of insurance. It has long since past crisis point. The private insurance sector itself has had many opportunities to correct itself and still refuses to do so. Perhaps it is time for Ireland to look at an altogether different system of insurance. A no-fault system, much like New Zealand, has often been mentioned but not fully analysed by the department. It may be that such a radical change is beyond this current government, it would almost certainly upset the interest of the companies involved in the sector. It would likely, however, be of benefit to the people.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9BPe1H8ssq2GkfyHy1w4RvF-alhmoTSMH8Bpu_yt4_pr1AAJan4f6S5SLp0aQwhCh0aqTW00oCD2ZrHo_eX0GP8_conNGuvfeEJF_YHoDL7P-JPVeiH9VgLlzScwmAMLVJHc1viS7V5E/s1600/103059310-GettyImages-161719626.530x298.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="298" data-original-width="530" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9BPe1H8ssq2GkfyHy1w4RvF-alhmoTSMH8Bpu_yt4_pr1AAJan4f6S5SLp0aQwhCh0aqTW00oCD2ZrHo_eX0GP8_conNGuvfeEJF_YHoDL7P-JPVeiH9VgLlzScwmAMLVJHc1viS7V5E/s320/103059310-GettyImages-161719626.530x298.jpg" width="320" /></a>Leaving aside the above, for the minister to suggest that these devices become mandatory for young drivers in the future is particularly worrying in the current climate given the significant data breaches that have occurred of late. Insurance companies already garner little trust from the general public given their lack of transparency and cartel-like behaviour. There is nothing to suggest that they can be trusted to store the data they gather in a responsible way. If nothing else, it would be a major breach of our right to privacy to force these devices on us.Kian Griffinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03044093181652045823noreply@blogger.com40tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6387640899553067512.post-39671741317556821202018-03-20T17:10:00.000+00:002018-03-20T17:10:43.756+00:00Fury over lack of insurance reform<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.399999618530273px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
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<b><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.599998474121094px;">Policy holders have been 'thrown to the wolves' by Government <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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The Alliance of insurance Reform has expressed its intense disappointment at the slow pace of reform in the insurance and judicial industries following a meeting with Michel D'Arcy TD, Minister of State with special responsibility for Insurance at Government Buildings today. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Speaking after the meeting, Eoin McCambridge of McCambridges of Galway and director of the Alliance said: <o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>"The Government promised 'to identify immediate and longer term measures which can address increasing costs', when they launched the Cost of Insurance Working Group in September 2016. We turned up at Government Buildings today expecting news on significant actions. What we have got instead is death by a thousand consultations and the dead hand of vested interests . The hard-pressed motorists, charities, voluntary groups, sports clubs and businesses around the country cannot wait for reform. It must happen now. <o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>The Government has been hoodwinked into believing motor insurance premiums are on the way down. In reality, they are up 42% since January 2014, with increasing numbers of young drivers and owners of older cars unable to get insurance at all.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>Meanwhile, charities, voluntary groups, sports clubs and businesses are reporting enormous increases in their liability insurance premiums, a crisis happening behind closed doors due to the lack of any data from the secretive insurance industry. We feel like we've been thrown to the wolves by the Government with no real help in sight."<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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Ivan Cooper, Director of Advocacy with The Wheel <span lang="GA">(Ireland's national association for community, voluntary and charitable organisations</span>) said after the meeting: <o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>"The insurance issue is increasingly impacting on our members in terms of their costs and the restrictions placed on their activities by insurance policies. This situation is unsustainable as it is a block on voluntary organisations who want to contribute to Irish society. We are calling today for an acceleration in the pace of reform in the industry." <o:p></o:p></i></div>
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Also speaking after the meeting was Peter Boland of the Alliance for Insurance Reform. He said: <o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>"The CIWG Reports are now littered with examples of positive-sounding actions that have been interminably delayed or neutered. For example, a protocol was proposed that would oblige insurance companies to notify a policyholder of claims made against them before settlement. This was supposed to be in place since the end of 2017 but has disappeared into the ether. <o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>Likewise, a Garda Unit specialising in insurance fraud and funded by the insurance industry was due to be in place by the end of last year. Again, this has disappeared without trace. <o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>Furthermore, what has been completed is completely unsatisfactory. For example the insurance industry was to be compelled to explain large premium increases to motorists. Instead, what was agreed between the industry and the Department of Finance was a blend generic statement that will be sent out with every premium increase and is a masterclass in saying everything and saying nothing. (</i><a href="https://www.aig.ie/existing-customers/renewal-quote-explained" style="color: purple;"><i><span style="color: windowtext;">https://www.aig.ie/existing-customers/renewal-quote-explained</span></i></a>)<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>"Overall, the Government's CIWG is turning into a long-term process and there is no point in a long-term process to address an urgent issue. The actions the Alliance are focusing on are ones we believe to be just, proportionate, feasible, achievable within a limited timeframe and ultimately, we believe, effective."<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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The actions the Alliance wants taken right now are :<o:p></o:p></div>
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PREVENTION OF FRAUDULENT, MISLEADING AND EXAGGERATED CLAIMS<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "symbol";">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span>Link Sections 26 and 25 of the Civil Liability Act 2004 so that if a claim is dismissed because it is false or misleading, it is automatically referred to the Gardai for prosecution under Section 25.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "symbol";">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span>Push on the establishment of the Garda Insurance Fraud Unit funded by Insurance Industry<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "symbol";">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span>Regulate claims management companies (claims harvesters)<o:p></o:p></div>
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CONSISTENCY<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "symbol";">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span>General damages to be consistent with comparable European norms<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "symbol";">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span>Tariffs for specific injuries to be proportionate with the Court of Appeal cap of €450,000 for catastrophic injuries<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt 36pt; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol";">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span>Consistency in the awarding of general damages among judges<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span>TRANSPARENCY<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt 36pt; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol";">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span>Transparent data on the insurance industry so that we can identify why the crisis is happening <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt 36pt; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol";">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span>Transparency from insurance companies on why individual premiums are increased<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt 36pt; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol";">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span>Transparency from insurance companies on how, when and why claims are settled.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.399999618530273px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-IE">Commented McCambridge, <i>"It was agreed that the Alliance would meet the Minister and his team again soon to follow up on progress. We will be expecting a lot more action soon if reform is going to make any difference for our members". </i></span></div>
Kian Griffinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03044093181652045823noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6387640899553067512.post-43908949251812845122017-09-26T09:52:00.002+01:002017-09-26T09:55:33.628+01:00It's been a while...Hi everyone!<br />
<br />
I know it's been a while since I've written or posted anything of substance. I wish I could say I've been working constantly behind the scenes to try to get your insurance premiums down, but the truth is I've just been too busy to keep up the amount of lobbying and media interviews that I had been doing.<br />
<br />
At this point I think I've done all I can do as an individual short of running for election (don't expect to see that happening any time soon!). What I have been doing though, is keeping an eye on how things are progressing. It's been jut over 12 months since I sat in front of the Dáil committee giving them my two cents and, it seems, things are moving in the right direction. I've been stopped on the street a number of times now by people who tell me their premiums have come down since I started banging on about it. The CSO figures on premium prices are also encouraging, showing them going in the right direction.<br />
<br />
I know from the many Facebook comments that not all of you have felt the strain easing yet, but you will soon I promise. In the meantime, you can help. There's only so much lobbying of politicians I can do on my own. So I'm reaching out to all of you to ask you to send emails either to your local TD or the minister of state Michael D'Arcy. You may not think it, but every email that lands in the inbox of our politicians grabs their attention at some stage, and the more they see coming in about motor insurance, the more seriously they take it. If we can keep the pressure up, especially in the run up to the budget, then we can make sure it is seen as a priority. Below I have pasted an email I recently wrote to Deputy D'Arcy, feel free to copy it for your own purposes.<br />
<br />
Kian<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">Minister D'Arcy,</span><br />
I hope this email finds you well.<br />
Last year, I sat in front of an oireachtes committee which was looking into the price rise in motor insurance. I corresponded with your predecessor a number of times on the matter also. I am writing to you today on behalf of those whom I represent, young drivers.<br />
As you may be aware, I have been campaigning for a while now to try keep the spotlight on the issue of high insurance costs. I have met with various stakeholders, from the CEO of insurance Ireland to various industry lobbyists, journalists and politicians. What I can gather from the contrasting pieces of information is that the industry is, to put it mildly, a mess. I wonder, minister, if the effort it would take to try get the market back on track would be worth it?<br />
My own personal opinion is this, and you can take it or leave it as you please. Motor insurance is a legal requirement as set by the government but it is run by private businesses. I believe this is a conflict of interest, so to speak. I believe this is a recipe for disaster, I believe it needs to be overhauled completely. The Government is there to represent and protect the people of Ireland. Private industry is there to exploit them, for want of a better word. (I should point out at this stage that I have no problem with private industry and I don't make the following suggestion to spite them).<br />
I would propose that our Republic changes the system of insurance to a model such as they operate in New Zealand, a "no fault universal insurance". The details are more complicated I'm sure, but the general idea is that third party liability is covered through general taxation. This removes the legal requirement for people to purchase insurance. They can, f course, still go to private companies for more extensive cover should they wish. Now, I'm no fool, I'm sure this system has it's drawbacks. Does it, for example, take responsibility for poor driving away from those behind the wheel? Would people be more careless on the road knowing they don't have to worry about increased premiums if they have an accident?<br />
These are questions which need to be asked and answered. Unfortunately I don't have the time or resources to research this myself, but I believe this radical change is something worth looking into. I hope it is something you may devote some time to, for the benefit of all drivers here.<br />
If I can ever be of assistance, feel free to reach out.<br />
Kindest Regards,<br />
Kian Griffin<br />
<i>Ireland Underground</i></blockquote>
Kian Griffinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03044093181652045823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6387640899553067512.post-62127291962091856522017-06-27T12:45:00.000+01:002017-06-27T12:45:27.774+01:00Has the Time Arrived for Universal No Fault Personal Injuries Insurance?<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-8398c581-e8df-c04d-47dd-1d1b0b7bb02e" style="font-weight: normal;"><i>By James O'Mahony </i></b><br />
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><i><br /></i></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Judge Seamus Hughes of Longford District Court recently said that he will no longer send young people to jail for driving without insurance. He said the “huge increase” in uninsured young drivers had become a national problem, blaming the rising cost of insurance premiums on “excessive claims” being awarded. The Judge said that new premiums were so excessive, that they were preventing young people from getting to work. He suggested that Ireland adopt the English approach.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Well, let’s adopt the New Zealand approach instead.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In New Zealand, everybody pays a portion of their income into a universal no fault personal injuries fund to cover them for personal injuries. This eliminates the need for public liability, employee liability and medical negligence insurance. It renders car insurance optional where third party property damage insurance is included in the price of fuel. In fact, car insurance is only purchased where someone has borrowed money to buy a car. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It could even be argued that universal no fault personal injuries insurance saves the environment because the average age of cars on New Zealand’s roads is 14 years old. It could be argued that this is because newer vehicles would require the purchase of car insurance to protect one's investment. While older vehicles produce more greenhouse gasses, the production of new vehicles also generates a significant amount of greenhouse gas. So older vehicles may actually be better for the environment than brand new electric vehicles.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The fact that Kiwis don’t import new vehicles like the Irish do, may also have a positive effect on the economy in that money that would be spent on importing new vehicles in Ireland, and generating employment abroad, is spent elsewhere in the New Zealand economy and generating employment in New Zealand rather than abroad. Older vehicles need more maintenance than newer vehicles so even more jobs are generated. This is comes under the heading of the “Circular Economy” which is a concept whereby resource input, waste emission and energy leakage are minimised by slowing, closing, and narrowing material and energy loops. This can be achieved through long-lasting design, maintenance, repair, reuse, remanufacturing, refurbishing, and recycling. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Because our environment is in such a precarious state, the circular economy will be huge, and generate thousands of jobs in the coming decades. Sweden, with this in mind, have introduced a tax credit to fund the repair of household appliances instead of throwing them away. They have also designed the Gripen E and F fighter jets around the idea of the circular economy. Finland is also to devise a circular economy strategy but I doubt if an Irish politician has ever heard of the concept. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Of course, Insurance companies in Ireland are dead against the idea of circular economics because they prefer to insure vehicles that are no more than seven years old. One company will not insure vehicles over nine years old. Others won’t accept vehicles over ten years old while most companies will be reluctant to take on vehicles over 14 and 15 years old. In the not too distant future, the Irish government may be obliged by the EU to adopt circular economic policies, not only because of what has been outlined above, but also increased automation and robotics will take more and more jobs. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">How should universal no fault personal injuries insurance work in Ireland?</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">First of all, there will have to be a root and branch reform of the tax system so that it is much flatter and broader than the existing tax system, to ensure that as many people as possible contribute to the no fault personal injuries fund. It must also be accompanied by a universal health insurance system. The charges for these two funds must take the form of a two percent universal no fault personal injuries levy and a 12% public health insurance levy and they must be paid into funds that cannot be touched by politicians. If a person wants, he should be entitled to opt out of these levies by buying approved private products. This is necessary because sole traders and the members of a partnership, if they make a lot of money, may end up paying an inordinate amount of money for health and personal injuries insurance. Even though only one percent of us will end up in a nursing home, a two percent nursing care tax should be payable by everyone to fund home help and nursing home care in the event of incapacity. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">While health insurance should be used to pay for the delivery of normal everyday healthcare in addition to treatment for personal injuries, the personal injuries insurance, rather than a lump sum, should be used to fund an income of 85% of the claimant’s work income for the duration of the incapacity. It should also be used to fund home reconfigurations, vehicle reconfigurations etc., in the event that a person becomes wheelchair bound. Where a person is not working, 85% of the typical (as opposed to the average) full working week income should be payable. Claims for whiplash should be disallowed unless it is obvious from the state of the vehicle that it was travelling at speed. When the claimant dies, and assuming that his responsibilities have “died” too, i.e., children have left school/college and spouse has died or remarried, then the payments should cease. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Unlike the existing system, where an assailant may not always have the funds to pay compensation, claims for injuries sustained from an assault would also be allowed, and police officers who are currently not covered for injuries caused by a person suffering from a mental illness will be covered under this system.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">To make a claim, report the incident to the police, who will approve your claim once they are satisfied that it is a genuine claim. Then, it will just be a matter of sending it on to the Personal Injuries Assessment Board, which is already in existence. A claimant if he wants to, is entitled to challenge the award handed down by the Personal Injuries Assessment Board in the High Court.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Foreigners travelling to Ireland should be warned to have their own personal injuries insurance as the system should only cover people who are resident in Ireland and who are injured in Ireland.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But how should we fund third party property damage?</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Instead of fixed penalty fines for driving offences, which can often be small change to wealthier members of society, how about charging a week’s, a couple of week’s, a month’s or even several month’s income for an offence, and use this revenue to partly fund third party property damage. Taxes on fuels could also be repurposed so as to contribute to this fund, but to release funds so as to do that, direct water metering/charging will have to be reintroduced. This could also facilitate the abolition of VRT.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">To make life easier for young drivers who usually don’t own any property and are on low wages, it would be an excellent idea if road tax, local property tax and commercial rates, were replaced with a land value property tax payable by the owner rather than the occupier of the property. In the absence of a need to police car insurance and road tax, the judiciary will have additional resources to police other types of driving offence and indeed other non driving offences. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In the final analysis…</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Universal no fault personal injuries insurance has the potential to transform the Irish economy beyond recognition because the need for corporations to buy public liability and employee liability insurance will be gone. This will enhance competitiveness. Sole traders and members of partnerships will only have to insure themselves and their property rather than the public and their employees, and when combined with the abolition of road tax and VRT, will contribute hugely to the growth of their business and generate employment. Most jobs are in small businesses, and most small businesses start out as sole traders and partnerships, so there will be a boom in this area. People will choose to keep their vehicles for longer rather than take out a car insurance policy to cover a new vehicle. This will generate additional employment in the circular economy and hold more money in the economy for longer, because money that would have been spent on importing new vehicles will be spent elsewhere in the economy instead. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Separately from that, it will have a small additional positive impact on productivity as people who may not have been in a position to commute or rent away from home because of the cost, will be able to get on the road and work. So there will be a reduced demand on social programmes too and enhanced revenues in other areas.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Where the mostly foreign owned insurance firms operating in Ireland will invest much of their revenues abroad, there will be no profit motive in a universal no fault personal injuries insurance setting. Revenues raised from the universal no fault personal injuries levy could, along with state pension contributions be placed in a constitutionally protected sovereign fund and invested in Ireland so as to generate additional wealth and employment. Like any other sovereign fund, it can be drawn down as needed to make payments under the personal injuries insurance and pension schemes. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Health budgets will go further in the absence of a need to buy medical negligence insurance as well as public liability and employee liability insurance. Government revenues in general, will go much further in the absence of a need to buy public and employee liability insurance. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It may even make a dent in homelessness as those who, in the current insurance environment have to rent close to work or college will find commuting cheaper than maintaining a weekday address and a weekend address. This will be enhanced by the abolition of road tax. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Universal no fault personal injuries insurance is in operation quite successfully in various forms in many jurisdictions around the globe including New Zealand, Australia, parts of Canada, Brazil and even parts of Europe and in the absence of lawyers, is much cheaper than the existing Irish system. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Universal no fault personal injuries insurance truely is a “no brainer”!</span></div>
<br />Kian Griffinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03044093181652045823noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6387640899553067512.post-64416932328497354782017-04-24T13:53:00.001+01:002017-04-24T13:53:38.610+01:00Statement on Goverment measures to tackle Motor Insurance pricesIt's been some time since there has been any meaningful update from the Government in relation to the tackling of motor insurance premiums. I had hoped for swift action from Leinster house on this matter, but sadly that is not the case. Each day this debacle is allowed to continue means hundreds more people unfairly out of pocket. It is past crisis point at this stage.<br />
<br />
Today I have written to Minister Noonan to request a meeting to discuss this. I am hoping he will be willing to talk with me so that we might at least get an idea of a timescale for the Governments measures.<br />
<br />
Should I not get an answer, or should we not see signs of progress, then I believe it is time to look at arranging another demonstration (hopefully with a better turnout this time).<br />
<br />
Keep an eye on our social media accounts for updates.<br />
<br />
<i>All this month our readers can get 10% off at <a href="http://www.virgotyres.com/" target="_blank">virgotyres.com</a>. Use our exclusive discount code <b>"iuapr2017discount" </b>at the checkout.</i>Kian Griffinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03044093181652045823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6387640899553067512.post-24779701670221645772017-04-17T14:06:00.000+01:002017-04-17T14:06:01.183+01:00Let's Talk About Slow Drivers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvfm9w1Bhq2m-nlx2psYSRLf1nnu54FZtxmztBMkxiqUeVXSrxpAl-4YXnpJCZncmu1AmdXzWNXwHfUZ18bWi_EkxnmMxTcciNCBGAYBoKxwEzE4VjGIKAtGdnKOEHr-kvXvILLM2afWM/s1600/sllowdrivercartoon.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvfm9w1Bhq2m-nlx2psYSRLf1nnu54FZtxmztBMkxiqUeVXSrxpAl-4YXnpJCZncmu1AmdXzWNXwHfUZ18bWi_EkxnmMxTcciNCBGAYBoKxwEzE4VjGIKAtGdnKOEHr-kvXvILLM2afWM/s320/sllowdrivercartoon.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
This has to be the single most frustrating aspect of driving, not just in Ireland, but anywhere. You're tipping along nicely at 100km/h, round the next bend and get stuck behind someone doing 50km/h with no opportunity to pass. It's not too bad if this person has the consideration to pull in and let you (and the 50 or so cars building up behind you) pass, or if you can overtake. But 99% of the time, they are going to trundle along with no consideration for the increasingly frustrated drivers behind them.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM2tEJ8rD5BF11EUCswYER1dxamBt2njma88-7RluHd-tjYaCma9aMcDNjP_7oignmM1_pCAOfpRx8_a4p7a58bnUAwsFGmVzcKRipiFBga41I8Srkaz4RgnQYNp5hro6Ym8-PUXsfnyA/s1600/Kermitmeme.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM2tEJ8rD5BF11EUCswYER1dxamBt2njma88-7RluHd-tjYaCma9aMcDNjP_7oignmM1_pCAOfpRx8_a4p7a58bnUAwsFGmVzcKRipiFBga41I8Srkaz4RgnQYNp5hro6Ym8-PUXsfnyA/s1600/Kermitmeme.jpg" /></a>Now, most people will say be patient and don't rush. But is that really possible when you're trying to get to work in the morning, or get to the airport or how may other appointments. It's already being acknowledged by authorities in <a href="http://wnct.com/2017/04/17/nc-bill-would-fine-slow-drivers-in-the-left-lane/" target="_blank">North Carolina</a> that slow drivers are a danger to other road users. People don't think straight when frustrated or upset, they will make rash decisions which could end up causing accidents. It's far too simplistic to say people should stay patient and sit in traffic behind them and I can't understand why it's not something that has never been seriously addressed by a transport minister.<br />
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If you possess a full driving licence, there is no reason you can't drive at (or just below) the posted speed limit. Fair enough if you're a learner (or rental cars I suppose), but other then that...MOVE YOUR ASS!<br />
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<i>All this month our readers can get 10% off at <a href="http://www.virgotyres.com/" target="_blank">virgotyres.com</a>. Use our exclusive discount code <b>"iuapr2017discount" </b>at the checkout.</i><br />
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<b>Also read : <a href="http://www.ireland-underground.com/2017/02/lets-talk-about-boy-racers.html" target="_blank">Let's talk about Boy Racers</a></b><br />
<br />Kian Griffinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03044093181652045823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6387640899553067512.post-26150205576205794542017-04-01T09:51:00.000+01:002017-04-11T13:01:19.848+01:005 Reasons Young Drivers Deserve Higher Premiums<h3>
<i>As written by an insurance company</i></h3>
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<i>1. They don't even drive new cars</i></h2>
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If these young chaps weren't so crude as to drive outdated cars then of course we would offer lower premiums. We must punish them for being so inconsiderate as to think that an NCT validates a cars worthiness for insurance (perish the thought!). I mean seriously, why don't they just buy a 2016 model? </div>
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<i>2. Everyone else is taking money off them, why shouldn't we?</i></h2>
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It's only fair. If landlords are allowed to take so much off them for rent. They can obviously afford it. We need to get our fair share too!<br />
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<i>3. I need a third holiday this year</i></h2>
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Seriously though, you don't understand the stress I'm under. I only made 250k last year, I need that extra trip to the Maldives. You can hardly expect me to pay it myself?</div>
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<i>4. What are they gonna do about it anyway?</i></h2>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ0bifXcNK4vDOpAW2DIFncCwhyIxmBSYAL6g3fBSh309SnUKfBoDb_7bA7d_ih-R9a2fLFWklKkSbtQSR03A7hDFxMqyr5g5hYkhoqDrzdWvF5wyhYN-8uEY92kgDhxAj31dvshk9ocA/s1600/Rich-man-lighting-cigar-with-100-bill-Shutterstock-800x430.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ0bifXcNK4vDOpAW2DIFncCwhyIxmBSYAL6g3fBSh309SnUKfBoDb_7bA7d_ih-R9a2fLFWklKkSbtQSR03A7hDFxMqyr5g5hYkhoqDrzdWvF5wyhYN-8uEY92kgDhxAj31dvshk9ocA/s320/Rich-man-lighting-cigar-with-100-bill-Shutterstock-800x430.png" width="320" /></a></div>
It's not as if the Government considers youth a top priority! "Make hay while the sun shines" and all that. It's not my problem if employment prospects are so dire that they're stuck in low-income jobs. That's their own fault.</div>
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<i>5. Hahahahahahaha....hahahaha</i></h2>
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Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha (laughs in €'s) ahhahahahaha.</div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">Unlike those vulture insurance companies, we actually care about young drivers. To help you out with maintaining your car use promo code "</span>iuapr2017discount<span style="font-weight: normal;">" to get 10% off on <a href="http://virgotyres.com/">virgotyres.com</a> for the month of April.</span></h3>
Kian Griffinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03044093181652045823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6387640899553067512.post-70938486200436157432017-03-20T17:30:00.000+00:002017-03-20T18:18:11.512+00:00I'm A CriminalSo St. Patricks day was this weekend, and like most of the country I went out on Friday night to celebrate. I did the responsible thing, drove to town, had my few pints (literally a few, just one of those nights where I couldn't be bothered drinking much) and got a taxi the half mile out of town to my house. It was roughly 2.30/3.00 when I got in and I'd set my alarm for 10.30. Best of both worlds, got to go out with my friends and still get plenty sleep before facing the next day.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTQ91mCOvpqgZGux1w3a5N6DVqClZObAZLCUL-YkjweECj8ea7FGeexeKYd7wprCIWmu3BEV285p0vpXm_KHHW_jTtfwyxAi02ZFgv1XFammJG0Pb7czzG5rc3W_019HMEY4c0ifrMcyk/s1600/parade.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="169" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTQ91mCOvpqgZGux1w3a5N6DVqClZObAZLCUL-YkjweECj8ea7FGeexeKYd7wprCIWmu3BEV285p0vpXm_KHHW_jTtfwyxAi02ZFgv1XFammJG0Pb7czzG5rc3W_019HMEY4c0ifrMcyk/s320/parade.png" width="320" /></a>On Saturday I had to be in Tralee by midday. Given that there's little-to-no reliable public transport from Killorglin to Tralee (there is a bus service, but trust me it's far from reliable and I'd have to walk another mile in Tralee to get where I needed to go), the only option I had was to walk into town, collect my car and drive. It had been roughly 10 hours since my last drink. I'd had that little that I hadn't even a hint of a hangover. But, under Minister Ross' proposed legislation changes, I'd be considered a criminal.<br />
Not only would I be a criminal, I could potentially have my car taken from me. Given the aforementioned absence of reliable public transport, I'd also lose my job as there's no way I'd make it to my shift on time every day and arranging a lift just isn't an option.<br />
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This is why people in rural areas have a problem with this proposed changes in the law. It's not that we condone drink-driving, it's not that we want special permits permitting us to do so. It's down to the fact that, if you want to have any sort of a life in rural Ireland, joining your friends for a drink is unavoidable. We have no alternative in terms of socialising, the pub is all we have. We have no alternative in terms of transport, the car is king. You can be as responsible as you like (I think I was very much so on Paddy's day?) but zero tolerance will kill rural Ireland if proper transport links aren't first put in place.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEXshhhyphenhyphenc23W1HBHWDj2ljJzawZiFqeBhnPX3gRbhlrSlRas4scSdBAs8CVmXA-zBqBdZ6phjOqahnYR1y4fsN5lFfwzq_IUYkmpJKHpVDA8HcwsrB_Vx-xhcHlRI9sWQ0Sw97G6Q4Ldw/s1600/article-2100912-11BB7D10000005DC-415_634x402.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEXshhhyphenhyphenc23W1HBHWDj2ljJzawZiFqeBhnPX3gRbhlrSlRas4scSdBAs8CVmXA-zBqBdZ6phjOqahnYR1y4fsN5lFfwzq_IUYkmpJKHpVDA8HcwsrB_Vx-xhcHlRI9sWQ0Sw97G6Q4Ldw/s320/article-2100912-11BB7D10000005DC-415_634x402.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Minister Ross seems to be taking the easy route. He seems to be doing all he can to make himself look good without actually doing any work. We don't need more legislation (God knows there's hardly enough Gardai to enforce it anyway), we need more practical solutions. Sort out some decent connectivity between rural towns first, at a reasonable price (believe me the prices for Bus Eireann are what's killing it as much as the shite service). Whether it's affordable buses, or reopening the southern railways. Sure the initial investment would be huge, but the government is there to serve the people of Ireland, all Ireland, not just Dublin.<br />
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Consider the consequences of poorly researched legislation Minister. Give us an alternative to using our cars and then, one hundred percent, a zero tolerance policy is the correct thing.Kian Griffinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03044093181652045823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6387640899553067512.post-1774103821814414152017-02-16T19:33:00.000+00:002017-02-16T19:33:05.883+00:00Let's Talk About "Boy Racers"There's a certain stereotype attached to people who own and drive cars with any form of modifications on them. The general consensus is that owners of these cars are reckless and dangerous. I have seen comments on various online forums decrying "boy racers" as scum and a danger to the general public. While I accept that younger drivers are statistically more likely to be involved in an accident, I vehemently oppose the idea that owners of modified cars are in any way more dangerous on the road just because their car is modified.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4ufHhMXNF95cdh3-4hbsn76UcJvYJIPQXUub1UvHzGcH2BK250h9iCrAmoPnz19QuqfFP7uAMXcK-k_Is9SgxG9UNsB1qiT1usSE1uAo_vV39YGN5pyhkgq6GyR8Pfl0EjQJvn4EhSAQ/s1600/16388565_1405460246154143_1282345709_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4ufHhMXNF95cdh3-4hbsn76UcJvYJIPQXUub1UvHzGcH2BK250h9iCrAmoPnz19QuqfFP7uAMXcK-k_Is9SgxG9UNsB1qiT1usSE1uAo_vV39YGN5pyhkgq6GyR8Pfl0EjQJvn4EhSAQ/s320/16388565_1405460246154143_1282345709_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
A dangerous driver will be just as dangerous in a Honda Civic as they would be in a Volvo. In fact, I would be of the opinion that, if someone has put time, money and effort into personalizing their vehicle, they would be more likely to take car of it as much as they can. I meet dangerous/idiotic/inconsiderate drivers on a daily basis. Very few actually drive modified cars. The majority are driving newer executive class cars which speed past at every given opportunity (even if I'm already at the speed limit) or little old hatchbacks which insist on going everywhere at 20km/h holding up a line of 50 cars behind them.<br />
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I have, on many occasions, been treated like absolute shite just because of the car I'm driving. Especially around May bank holiday weekend (Rally of the Lakes time, or "Boy Racer" witch-hunt season to many). I've been shouted at, threatened and had stuff thrown at my car even while parked, giving no indication whatsoever that I could be poor driver or a "menace to society". The only hint being my lowered suspension, tinted windows or, a few years back, my rear spoiler...(yes I had a ricer car and I make no apologies for it! 😎 )<br />
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Car modification is a passion and a culture that is just getting stronger in Ireland. It is harmless, fun and creative. It's something that should be encouraged, not frowned upon. Planning a build and seeing it come to fruition is one of the most rewarding past-times a person can have. Besides, if we're spending money on our cars, we can't afford drink and drugs!<br />
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Punish us for how we drive, not what we drive.Kian Griffinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03044093181652045823noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6387640899553067512.post-32458073609680152702016-11-25T12:11:00.002+00:002016-11-25T12:11:33.446+00:00Report on Motor Insurance by the Oireachtas Finance Committee<div dir="ltr" style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;">
I am encouraged by the report ,published on Thursday, by the Oireachtas Finance committee. I'm delighted that they've taken seriously the recommendations of myself and all other stakeholders they have spoken too.</div>
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I am particularly pleased by the recommendation requesting for more clarity and a point-by-point breakdown of insurance renewals. This will allow motorists to see exactly where their money is going and remove the veil of mystery behind which insurance companies have, to now, been able to hide behind.</div>
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I do empathise with the insurance companies to an extent, the volatility in the market and high cost of court awards inhibits massively their ability to offer lower premiums based on their risk models. This is an unfortunate consequence of outsourcing the provision of insurance to the private sector, they are going to want to maintain their profit margin by passing their costs onto consumer. That is no criticism of the companies, as this is how any company would operate. It is a criticism of the entire system.</div>
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Therefore, I am also encouraged by the recommendation that the minister examine the feasibility of state backed insurance systems such as the New Zealand model. Despite their own drawbacks, these types of systems can reduce the burden on the motorist massively.</div>
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This report is a massive step in the right direction for motorists in Ireland. But the government must not sit back and think their job is done. The discussions are complete, action is now required. I ask that the Minister for Finance pushes forward with these recommendations in their entirety. Prove to the people of Ireland that this Government can put them ahead of corporate interest.</div>
Kian Griffinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03044093181652045823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6387640899553067512.post-54119431918149925392016-11-02T21:10:00.000+00:002016-11-02T21:10:21.297+00:00What's happening with Motor Insurance?<h1 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: justify;">
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As you will all know by now, over the last number of months I’ve been meeting with various stakeholders in the Motor Insurance market to try to get a grasp on what is causing the extraordinary increases we are currently experiencing. I’ll do my best in this post to try to explain what I have learned.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJfdxglL5DSoABCThyevUM7Gj53GOASKNWeadhzyyGa46lja1RbvMftcNGPdhkkX00h7J_1X2KV1uA_Jmz29aaEuYtPF-G_1xdCCL36EBoVWF_5YHqCr88zEi5Kd-cKgz9_yCcxPikn-0/s1600/13589027_10208931564541891_1059106334_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJfdxglL5DSoABCThyevUM7Gj53GOASKNWeadhzyyGa46lja1RbvMftcNGPdhkkX00h7J_1X2KV1uA_Jmz29aaEuYtPF-G_1xdCCL36EBoVWF_5YHqCr88zEi5Kd-cKgz9_yCcxPikn-0/s320/13589027_10208931564541891_1059106334_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Firstly, I’m not going to go into detail about every single thing that contributes to the cost of insurance. There is so much there, and it is such a complicated market, that I’d be writing for days to cover it all. I’m just going to focus on the one area that, in my own humble opinion, has contributed most to the cost.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">To start with, we have to acknowledge that insurance companies are private businesses which are in existence to make a profit. Many of you will believe that motor insurance should run by the state, or that there should be a no-fault system in place, but for the purpose of this post that is irrelevant. The situation as it stands is that the private companies run the motor insurance industry. As private companies do, when things get tough, their first interest is self-preservation. This is important to note because the volatility in the market at the moment is forcing them to act this way.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There is an EU directive known as “solvency ii” which has a lot of clever sounding phrases and words that are quite difficult to explain. To put it simply, this instructs insurance entities on how they should reserve for the risk they take on. (Setanta, for example, massively under reserved and collapsed as a result). Basically, the insurance companies have to set aside enough cash to cover compensation pay-outs for each premium they insure.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidFpNunSv6fyAXdTo2YahR1eJ48GjYTsKaZfKo9et2O1bKx4YoPt_5WjbF_riNHE7aoQfSGesCELmyqICMED_bJAQP49sp3xfnoiiPr0P3GylOZzwpO9nmz6Pzbwa4xyfBF8ksYFpOICg/s1600/man-at-accident-scene.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidFpNunSv6fyAXdTo2YahR1eJ48GjYTsKaZfKo9et2O1bKx4YoPt_5WjbF_riNHE7aoQfSGesCELmyqICMED_bJAQP49sp3xfnoiiPr0P3GylOZzwpO9nmz6Pzbwa4xyfBF8ksYFpOICg/s320/man-at-accident-scene.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The issue here is that, when they are taking on a premium, there is no immediate way to tell how much that premium will cost the company in terms of potential claims pay-outs. This, coupled with the solvency ii directive, forces the companies to reserve enough capital to cover the worst case scenario. So when someone gets an award of, let’s say 50k for a broken leg for example, the companies have to treat every new premium as potentially costing them 50k in a pay-out. Even if 9/10 cases paid out only 5,000 and only 1 cost the 50,00, they still have to assume the worst case scenario for each premium. Obviously, this is a very simplistic explanation of it.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When we look into it, this does make sense and match up with much of the data that is available and what the various stakeholders are saying. The Personal Injuries Assessment Board (PIAB) are adamant that the level of claims hasn’t increased in recent years, despite the insurance companies saying that it’s claims causing the increase. The thing is, they’re both correct. The level of claims hasn’t increased dramatically, but how they’re covered by premiums has changed.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRtZ-gmQn0-et4XAIgJ7Az8H65bB-sparDi86gIO3an839WmGo9RQVqGebYXLccMfx8_YkW19UDvBZ1ook-crp_hTzbAmlVLYirXUCKYOlw4EUXV0q9b1hqKChfqtfAUDeUZ9gAWCJiC4/s1600/12421286_779195822215082_1012607352_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRtZ-gmQn0-et4XAIgJ7Az8H65bB-sparDi86gIO3an839WmGo9RQVqGebYXLccMfx8_YkW19UDvBZ1ook-crp_hTzbAmlVLYirXUCKYOlw4EUXV0q9b1hqKChfqtfAUDeUZ9gAWCJiC4/s200/12421286_779195822215082_1012607352_n.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What this has done, is force insurance companies to limit the risk they take on, therefore they narrow their field of interest and charge more for what they consider to be high risk categories to cover both the reserves they must set aside, their running expenses and their profit margin (roughly 5%). Unsurprisingly, young drivers fall into that category as do drivers of older cars (crashes involving older cars are more likely to be catastrophic in nature so the profiling is justified…as much as it bugs me). Double whammy for younger people who are the most likely to be driving older cars, so the whole thing hits us twice.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The recently updated “Book of Quantum” will go some way to providing clarity on court awards, but unless the Judges begin adhering to it, and clamping down on frivolous, claims it will simply act as “a menu for chancers” as Charlie Weston put it in the <a href="http://www.independent.ie/opinion/columnists/charlie-weston/new-book-of-quantum-risks-becoming-a-chancers-charter-35107852.html" target="_blank">independent</a>. As it stands, the legislation states that Judges must “have regard for” the book, which essentially means they can have a glance at it and then award whatever they feel appropriate.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">With the pressure mounting on the government (pause for applause…awkward silence…moving on…) Minister for State Eoghan Murphy has said that he wants to have some form of solution in place by the end of the year. The Finance and Public Expenditure committee is set to report to the minister shortly with their recommendations. The likelihood is that this year will see premiums increase once more, before the market stabilizes and prices begin to come down again the following year.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I don’t envisage prices ever returning to the previous low as that was simply unsustainable, so if you used to pay only €200 for your premium, I’m sorry but that’s not going to happen again. But for the younger generation, there is some hope around the corner…in terms of car insurance at least. Let’s not mention the cost of rent, housing market, dole rate discrimination, student loans schemes, cost of 3</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 8.799999999999999px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: super; white-space: pre-wrap;">rd</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> level education, rural isolation or lack of career prospects. Yeah…aside from that, great time to be a young person in Ireland…</span></div>
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Kian Griffinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03044093181652045823noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6387640899553067512.post-9887062978780556602016-09-03T20:00:00.000+01:002016-09-03T20:00:13.243+01:00Oireachteas Committee meeting<div class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This coming Thursday, I will appear in front of an Oireachteas committee to discuss possible solutions to the current motor insurance crisis. I will be putting forward some ideas which may help alleviate the situation as well as trying to highlight the plight of motorists in Ireland. Below is an advance draft of my speaking notes for the day. The session will be broadcast live on Oireachteas TV from 11.00.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>For the last number of weeks, I’ve been receiving emails, calls and social media messages from members of the public in despair at the cost of their motor insurance. Many are considering, or have already, refusing to pay their motor insurance due to the cost. As you will no doubt be aware, figures recently released show a 17% increase in claims involving uninsured drivers. This is a very worrying figure as these claims contribute to the overall cost of premiums and, judging by the messages I’m receiving, this figure could be set to rise significantly in the next 12 months.</i></span><b id="docs-internal-guid-2632604a-f16b-521f-cbea-acc3af25326c" style="font-weight: normal;"><i><br /></i></b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>One of the key problems that people have is that their premiums are increasing despite them having no claims or accidents. They see this as pure profiteering by the insurance companies. Obviously, I know that these companies have to turn a profit in order to stay viable and they will increase their income to outweigh their outgoings in whatever way is most convenient and offers them the best results. I personally have no problem with private companies providing the insurance, but this is not a view shared by quite a number of motorists in the Republic of Ireland. What needs to be done, in my view, is to aid all insurance companies in bringing down their expenses, so they can remain profitable while offering lower premiums. </i></span><b style="font-weight: normal;"><i><br /></i></b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>There are a number of ways this I imagine this could be done at an official level;</i></span><b style="font-weight: normal;"><i><br /></i></b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i> Bring compensation payouts in line with EU averages.</i></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>Tackle fraudulent and exaggerated claims more aggressively</i></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>Grant greater powers to the injuries board</i></span><b style="font-weight: normal;"><i><br /></i></b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>Another issue that has been brought to my attention is lack of clarity. When we take out motor insurance, it is to cover the risk of an accident or theft etc. It would seem logical, therefore, that as you gain experience your premium should come down. Such has been the increase in premiums, those who have been driving for years, even decades, without a claim are seeing enormous increases. There seems to be no consistency in the pricing. People want clarity, they want to see exactly what they are paying for. I believe it is only fair that when someone is offered a premium, that premium should be broken down and shown clearly to the customer. In the same line of reasoning, insurance companies are claiming that much of the increase is down to the cost of claims. Yet 70% of claims are settled out of court. I would support the motion put forward by Deputy McGrath a number of weeks ago, for the implementation of a claims database. The companies may claim it is anti-competitive, but i would argue that if everyone must disclose their out of court settlements then it is an even playing field for all companies. I fully believe that this would help reduce the cost of claims as we could monitor if suspected fraudulent claims are not being fully investigated.</i></span><b style="font-weight: normal;"><i><br /></i></b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>Lastly, and I think this is a major issue particularly for young drivers. There is a refusal by many insurance companies to take on cars older even than 10 years. I don’t know if they are expecting a 17 or 18 year old to be earning €50,000 per year but I know very few young drivers who can afford a car less than 10 years old. If a car has a valid NCT, then I believe it should be required by law to be judged the same as a new car in terms of risk. In most countries, the insurance companies will assess the risk based on the car, or the driver. Here, they do both. I don’t see why, if I’m considered a low-risk, insurable driver in a 2010 BMW, why am I suddenly uninsurable in a 1995 Ford Escort? I am just as good a driver in either, and as such should be considered in the same risk category regardless of what car I’m driving.</i></span><b style="font-weight: normal;"><i><br /></i></b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>The motorists of Ireland are besieged on all fronts. We are drowning under a tsunami of expense. We have to contend with an unfair two-tier tax system, high fuel costs, poor road conditions leading to unusually high maintenance fees and now rapidly soaring insurance premiums. This government consistently mentioned they would “keep the recovery going”. There may be a recovery here in Dublin, or for the upper class. But I cannot say I have felt any recovery. I speak for the everyman here in Ireland when I say we want a share of the recovery. I am here to beg you to help us. We’ve done our part slogging through the mire of the recession, all we ask is a small return to help us breathe a little easier. </i></span><b style="font-weight: normal;"><i><br /></i></b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>Thank you.</i></span><i><br /></i><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>Kian Griffin</i></span></blockquote>
Kian Griffinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03044093181652045823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6387640899553067512.post-24756576645442643932016-08-18T17:30:00.002+01:002016-08-25T09:25:12.381+01:00Vote for us!As you probably know already, Ireland Underground has made the shortlist for this years blog awards!<br />
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This is fantastic validation for what we have achieved so far. The public vote is worth 20% so we would really appreciate if you could vote for us by clicking the image below.<br />
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<a href="https://blogawardsireland.secure-platform.com/a/gallery?roundId=17&searchParams=%7B%22pageIndex%22%3A0%2C%22sortMode%22%3A%22AscendingByApplicationName%22%2C%22displayMode%22%3A%22List%22%2C%22filterByApplicationCategoryPath%22%3A%5B%5D%2C%22filterByWinnerCategoriesIds%22%3A%5B%5D%2C%22filterByFieldValues%22%3A%5B%5D%2C%22filterByApplicationNameOrCode%22%3A%22ireland%20underground%22%7D" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA5mqQ5xv0feod7E9QbDm_xMKF7XSHIFZ1TnA8dLtz-iNJ1njwAwKytLrf22wR_0AXfkZZNy54DfgkMS9jnSE8RVp2ZFJDGPtD8Pmas6ZkjYhwGqNgJmUUx1VrNVWvfvGRz6gf8aLQVII/s1600/Littlewoods-Blog-Awards-2016-Website-MPU_Vote-For-Us.jpg" /></a></div>
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<i>This years Blog Awards are sponsored by <a href="http://www.littlewoodsireland.ie/">www.littlewoodsireland.ie</a></i>Kian Griffinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03044093181652045823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6387640899553067512.post-90456629429316783702016-08-01T12:57:00.000+01:002016-08-01T12:57:26.825+01:00An Open Letter to Minister Noonan<br />
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Dear Minister Noonan,<br />
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For a number of years now, the cost of motoring in Ireland has been steadily increasing. From oil price increases to tax increases and now the shockingly high insurance premiums. It is becoming a real struggle for many to afford to keep a car on the road. In a country where public transport is notoriously unreliable, this is a very real and urgent issue.<br />
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Your party ran an election campaign based on a slogan of "keep the recovery going". I must ask, where is this recovery? I have heard whispers that things are better for the upper class in Dublin, but the vast majority of the population have not felt it. This "recovery" is beginning from the top down. Nowhere is this more evident than when it comes to motorists. Those who can afford newer cars can avail of a lower tax rate, others cannot. Those who can afford newer cars can avail of cheaper car insurance, others cannot. It seems as if the decks are firmly stacked against those of us who have older cars, and it is made nearly impossible for us to break free of this viscous circle.<br />
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I ask you, Minister, why is it that an older car which may have lower Co2 emissions than a 161 car, still has to pay higher taxes? Why is it, that an older car which passes the same NCT test as a new car should have to pay higher insurance premiums? Why is it that a person who has many years driving without a single claim should have a premium increase? Does insurance not price risk anymore? are they now pricing opportunity? The purpose of purchasing motor insurance is to insure the driver against risk, if a driver has not given any reason to be considered a higher risk, they should not have to pay a higher premium.<br />
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We are no longer paying to insure the risk of motoring. We are paying to cover Setanta, Quinn and likely Enterprise, whose companies who have been wound up. Did the financial regulator or the central bank not see the issues with those companies? If not, someone hasn't done their job. Why should we pay to cover their losses?<br />
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We are paying to cover the excessive cost of claims in this country. I was recently told of someone who received a payout of nearly 250,000 for whiplash! Why are claims such as this not being thoroughly investigated? Why should I and others have to pay for people who exaggerate claims? Why should they have an easy life while others struggle to afford their daily commute?<br />
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As it stands, Minister, there is a very real danger that a significant percentage of motorists will begin to take the risk of driving uninsured just so they can get to work. You need to urgently address what is fast becoming a national crisis.<br />
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Therefore I ask you, why not change the motor tax system so that all cars, not just newer ones, are taxed based on emissions? Why not change the way insurance is done in this country, perhaps look at a "no-fault" system such as they have in New Zealand?<br />
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We are tired, Minister. We are frustrated, we are exhausted. We have spent years struggling through austerity, please let us have a piece of the recovery too.<br />
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Kind Regards,<br />
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Kian GriffinKian Griffinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03044093181652045823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6387640899553067512.post-29900541459836150342016-07-27T19:38:00.000+01:002016-08-25T09:25:03.171+01:00We've made it - Blog Awards Ireland 2016<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I'm delighted to announce that Ireland Underground has made the long-list for the 2016 Littlewoods Ireland Blog Awards. It's an honour to be nominated and we truly hope that we make the shortlist.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrJTUt5wz6dZGiWBxQkFVFtLTKtmXAZ7TQlUzhN5Qm1j8B9xUyeFeu9jZwq2NcqS7pO8HRTECzT9OHM1wKru9Lp_Y4h1Cg-wWKOwyfsm28tzIUFFn_AZE5aJzyftNdlEu5w5CX69Uvgtg/s1600/Littlewoods+Blog+Awards+2016_Judging+Round+Button_Longlist+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrJTUt5wz6dZGiWBxQkFVFtLTKtmXAZ7TQlUzhN5Qm1j8B9xUyeFeu9jZwq2NcqS7pO8HRTECzT9OHM1wKru9Lp_Y4h1Cg-wWKOwyfsm28tzIUFFn_AZE5aJzyftNdlEu5w5CX69Uvgtg/s320/Littlewoods+Blog+Awards+2016_Judging+Round+Button_Longlist+%25281%2529.jpg" width="320" /></span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">It's been a busy year so far for us. We've profiled some amazing cars, met some fantastic people and most importantly, led the charge for a reduction in motor insurance premiums.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">We've made both regional and national news, been a consistent feature in both the tabloids and broadsheets (a big thank you to Charlie Weston in the Irish Independent for their excellent coverage the last few months), we've been discussed on every radio show from Radio Kerry to Today FM and Radio 1.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Our fight to bring about cheaper insurance premiums goes on. We're still talking to politicians and journalists to make sure motorists in Ireland are not forgotten about.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">we are delighted to receive this nomination in recognition of the tremendous work but in by all involved in our campaign. I think it's appropriate at this moment to thank all of our local reps who put a herculean amount of effort into aiding the cause. Also I must single out Amy Ní Dheadaigh who was instrumental in getting us the press coverage that began the movement.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I hope that, when the public voting opens, you will be there to support us.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Thanks again for the support,</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Kian</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Sponsored by <a href="http://www.littlewoodsireland.ie/">www.littlewoodsireland.ie</a></i></span><br />
<br />Kian Griffinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03044093181652045823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6387640899553067512.post-84363908110412123502016-07-17T15:59:00.000+01:002016-07-17T15:59:45.393+01:00Mini Monster Series - Chris Gibson Toyota Yaris<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Ladies and Gents, allow us to present the second entry into our Mini Monster Series.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Have a look at this stunning, show quality Yaris (never thought I'd say that!) from Chris Gibson.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYP60UgyZAYA45T2OLJzGf3o7s5i6Ar-k2WCOFpLy1Zen53gxHJW1gljZWeXEJCPf3HxsWw1KZwL_8HHuouMVYWghH-Ho3Lgik4kMsXz-a8rIAnj96Inh3TvsSR630-jHqmEOc4GW6fnE/s1600/13214671_10206127780579727_1590033134_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYP60UgyZAYA45T2OLJzGf3o7s5i6Ar-k2WCOFpLy1Zen53gxHJW1gljZWeXEJCPf3HxsWw1KZwL_8HHuouMVYWghH-Ho3Lgik4kMsXz-a8rIAnj96Inh3TvsSR630-jHqmEOc4GW6fnE/s640/13214671_10206127780579727_1590033134_o.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Chris is studying mechanical engineering and renewable energy at Athlone IT, he bought his Yaris back in September 2014 and has made a fantastic job of it since. He's always resolved to modifying his first car, regardless of what it would have been. Chris really wanted to make his car his own, and I think he's been successful.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> This little monster has such a seamless look to it, you'd swear it was carved from one block of metal and dropped onto those stunning rims. He's fitted a full t-sport body kit, fully flushed bootlid and fitted a t-sport bonnet grill for good measure. He's also resprayed it in 8M4 Dark Metallic Blue. As well as those big jobs, he's added a few less noticeable touches such as the purple Lego dustcaps and team heko wind deflectors. All-in-all a beautiful job.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Under the hood the car is running on a 998cc, 4 cylinder, VVTI engine. Despite the relatively small engine, he still has to fork out around 1K for insurance this year. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Does this really look like a car that needs that high of a premium? After the work put into it, I doubt very much Chris is going to be taking any risks that would damage his pride and joy.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The back end of this car is as sweet as you'll ever see on a Yaris. From the flush boot and 1.5 inch shotgun exhaust, to the gleaming paintwork and the slick spoiler, this car will turn heads from all angles. Chris has his Yaris lowered all round. Using TA Technix Coilovers, he's dropped 110mm up front and 115mm to the rear to give it a more sporty look and feel than a standard height Yaris.</span><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"My favourite memory was going to JapFest 2015 as part of the Toc-Irl stand"</span></i><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It should be no surprise that this car was a part of the 2015 JapFest show. This is certainly one of the most unique cars in Ireland and goes to show that you don't need a big car to be a showstopper.</span><br />
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</span>Kian Griffinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03044093181652045823noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6387640899553067512.post-43177699005041696002016-07-03T13:53:00.003+01:002016-07-03T13:54:05.920+01:00The Next Step<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">First of all, I would like to say a massive thank you to those who made the effort to join us in Dublin yesterday.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The point of yesterdays demonstration was to bring the issue of soaring insurance premiums to light. Over the past number of weeks, we have been able to get the issue highlighted in every major news outlet in the country. Nearly every radio station in the country has discussed the issue, it has been debated on Vincent Browne, The last word with Matt Cooper and many others.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Yesterdays turnout was a massive disappointment of course, yet, with the small few numbers that did show, we still managed to get the issue on almost every news outlet in the country. Imagine what we could have done if everyone did come along.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It's very easy to rant on social media, to say what should be done and point fingers. It's easy to comment on news articles and assign blame. What is difficult is getting out and doing something about it. I made the error of presuming that all the anger and frustration being vented on social media would result in feet on the ground yesterday. I made the incorrect assumption that the motorists of Ireland were ready to stand up and fight for themselves rather than just talk about it on social media.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Perhaps we could have advertised the event better, but with no financial backing this is difficult. We had to rely entirely on social media and news publications. In the days and weeks running up to yesterdays event, we received countless messages of support. Many of these messages expressed delight that "finally someone is doing something". All of these messages, the Facebook posts, the website comments etc. led me to believe that we were onto something major. Judging by the reaction in the hours following yesterdays rally, we are onto something.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We are touching on a subject that is affecting thousands of people in Ireland. People are sick of having to pay out these premiums (even if they didn't show it yesterday). Perhaps traditional rallies and demonstrations are no longer the way to go. Perhaps there is another way to force the government into action.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Following yesterdays rally, we have received assurances from opposition TD's that they will not let the issue rest. They know, as do many Government TD's, that this is an issue of significant importance to Irish motorists. This is an issue that needs to be addressed decisively.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">On a final note, to the many motorists who failed to attend yesterday despite saying they would. It is up to you as individuals to stand up for yourselves. You cannot rely on others to fix things for you. Yesterday, Ireland Underground showed up to fight for you, yet you did not give us the support we were relying on. Despite this, we will still continue to fight for you, because it's the right thing to do. If we have to drag you kicking and screaming with us, we will. We are going to keep fighting until we get a resolution. But if we can get your support, it will make the process a lot easier.</span><br />
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<br />Kian Griffinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03044093181652045823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6387640899553067512.post-20281820418685011402016-06-29T22:23:00.001+01:002016-07-08T12:33:57.712+01:00A Statement from Kian Griffin of Ireland Underground <div dir="ltr">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Below is a copy of the statement read out in behalf of Ireland Underground at the recent Sinn Fein meeting at Wynns hotel in Dublin<br />
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<i>"Let me first apologise that I am not able to attend this meeting in person. Due to work commitments I was unable to travel from Kerry this evening.
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<i>I would like to thank the Sinn Fein party for organising this meeting tonight and for their aid in promoting our demonstration this Saturday, the help is greatly appreciated. I would also like to acknowledge those who are here in my stead to represent Ireland Underground, without their efforts, this campaign would not be possible.
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<i>I established Ireland Underground in February as a simple motoring blog. My intention was to interview young drivers with modified cars and post their stories online, I thought it would go a little way towards removing the stigma attached to young drivers. I had hoped to at least relieve some of the discrimination that I, and others of my age, often receive because of the cars we drive. Each person I interviewed mentioned the same issues to me. The cost of fuel, the cost of tax for pre-2008 cars, issues with NCT and the poor quality of the roads. But above all, motor insurance was a thorn in the side of these motorists. Younger drivers have always paid extremely high premiums, but we laboured on under the impression that, eventually, the prices would come down as we got over. Now, however, the opposite is happening. Despite getting older, and haveing more driving experience, our premiums are increasing. Through no fault of our own. There are a whole host of factors contributing to the extortionate increases we are seeing, far too many for a single person to decipher and far too many to be ignored.
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<i>In the past couple of years the increases have spread across all demographics with no consistency whatsoever. As I delved deeper into the issues and began to speak out about them. Ireland Underground grew to represent, not just young drivers, but all drivers. The government has expressed “concern” and “sympathy” at our plight, but this is not enough. We need immediate and decisive action. I acknowledge and appreciate the recent motion which went through the Dáil with support from both Fianna Fail and Sinn Fein. I am delighted to see cross-party support on this issue, my only surprise is that, despite almost unanimous support, the government still drag their feet on the issue.
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<i>This is why it is absolutely vital that all who are able, drive through Dublin with us on Saturday. As a group, we have more power than any lobby group in the country. Combined we could grind Dublin city to a standstill and keep it that way if we so desired. On Saturday, we need every available voice to join us both in our convoy to Dublin and the rally following in Merrion square. The concern of the government is not enough, their sympathy is not enough. We have the momentum to make a real difference, we have a chance to significantly improve our situation. We need to grasp this chance and stand together to fight for what is right. For too long, motorists have been an easy target. Our costs have increased year on year, it is time to take a stand. Join us next Saturday and make a difference.
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<i>Thank you.
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Kian Griffinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03044093181652045823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6387640899553067512.post-81283991746214945022016-05-26T13:38:00.001+01:002016-05-26T13:44:03.413+01:00Young Drivers Spearhead National Campaign against soaring Insurance Premiums<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBWBaW4bAtCLUmrPhmUf_Tna98hPIIHX_KdSnvPmkpJZ6B1heTGSGIuI6EnzfA5hC93jx5Xo-R0kXpib28fIslEv36AephO7O_y2CE_vH0Jdbyuu4lrd_jkpDvJnF6zLwoazj_o7Fi53M/s1600/Car-Insurance.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBWBaW4bAtCLUmrPhmUf_Tna98hPIIHX_KdSnvPmkpJZ6B1heTGSGIuI6EnzfA5hC93jx5Xo-R0kXpib28fIslEv36AephO7O_y2CE_vH0Jdbyuu4lrd_jkpDvJnF6zLwoazj_o7Fi53M/s320/Car-Insurance.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">For too long, motorists in Ireland have been burdened with excessive costs. From Fuel and Insurance to Motor tax and general maintenance. For far too long motorists have been seen as an easy target for taxes. We have to put up with a two-tier tax system. We have to drive on poorly maintained roads which councils are unwilling to accept legal responsibility for. We have to put our cars through a flawed NCT. On top of all of this, our insurance premiums are increasing an average of 35%. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The situation for motorists is dire. We cannot rely on public transport. We need our private transportation to go to work, and to own our own transport we are backed into a corner by legislation which forces these costs upon us. We have no choice but to pay the tax, we have no choice but to pay for the NCT, we have no choice but to repair our vehicles after the damage caused by unsuitable roads and we also have no choice but to pay extortionate premiums to private insurance companies.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">As a result of this, young drivers are spearheading a national campaign aimed at alleviating the costs to motorists. Ireland Underground, a group representing young drivers, are organising a national demonstration in front of Leinster House on the 2nd of July. The primary focus of this demonstration is the cost of insurance.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPWDceW2XCmftuGqwcqtFxx84W_gLKTUZvXlyaubNLlEHrK8Hu-B9S-XVf59BZ-8WSaNusq16SdrwXNjhq_T9aIbrp3Jb6t2pNpxH0VIg1tmV2UzoXrP7swaizQjL1mrlYMrLjWfrl5yk/s1600/What-Auto-Insurance-Fraud-Really-Costs-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPWDceW2XCmftuGqwcqtFxx84W_gLKTUZvXlyaubNLlEHrK8Hu-B9S-XVf59BZ-8WSaNusq16SdrwXNjhq_T9aIbrp3Jb6t2pNpxH0VIg1tmV2UzoXrP7swaizQjL1mrlYMrLjWfrl5yk/s200/What-Auto-Insurance-Fraud-Really-Costs-2.jpg" width="200" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The issues being put forward are the excessive payouts awarded from claims against insurance companies and poor pursuit of fraudulent claims. The group also asks that the government follow up on issues raised by Liadh Ni Riadha MEP, that noncompetitive pricing practices are in play throughout the industry.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It is also claimed that poor business models have led to the current situation. It is believed that, previously, insurance companies were underselling their premiums and using those same premium payments to purchase bonds in other European countries. Now that this gamble has failed, they are punishing Irish motorists for their failed gamble.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The group would also like to see restrictions lifted on insurance companies from Europe operating in Ireland. Drivers in neighboring EU countries are able to avail of premiums up to 400% cheaper than those in Ireland. Despite the free market, European insurance companies are not permitted to insure Irish based drivers without having an office in the country. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">The group have </span><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">called on the Irish Government to take immediate action.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>"It's gone on for far too long now, and the situation is getting worse by the day, y</i><i>oung drivers are laboured with quotes as high as €14,000. Insurance companies are refusing to quote cars older than 15 years old, which are the only cars some can afford to purchase".</i></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The demonstration is scheduled to take place on Saturday, July 2nd at Midday in Dublin.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">See our Facebook page for more information.</span></div>
Kian Griffinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03044093181652045823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6387640899553067512.post-7990874806132115462016-05-21T13:41:00.000+01:002016-05-21T13:41:29.802+01:00David Clancy - 2009 VW Jetta<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Modded diesels are one of the most popular trends in the Irish car scene at the moment. Not only are they cheaper to run, but they look good too!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Take this Jetta sent to us by David Clancy. This car looks sleek, prestigious and powerful all at once. Brought in completely standard from England, David has put an immense effort into this beauty.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The front-to-back flow on this car is spectacular, everything looks perfectly natural and streamlined. Starting from the stripped chrome grille, tidy lip and newly fitted fog lamps at the front, combined with those menacing eyelids, it all runs smoothly into the back where the roof and boot spoilers extend seamlessly off the original body parts. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The car rests lowered on fully adjustable coilovers, sitting on top of those stunning cadbury purple 18 inch boston alloys. The contrast between the rims and the body paint is definitely eye-catching and is sure to turn heads.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We love the simplistic, clean-cut look of this Jetta. No rice-ism to be found here. From front to back, this car is up there with the nicest modded diesels we've seen so far. But don't take our word for it. Let the pictures speak for themselves.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>Kian Griffinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03044093181652045823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6387640899553067512.post-73551650800206215812016-05-08T20:07:00.001+01:002016-05-08T20:14:56.190+01:00Mini Monster Series - Shane Cahill 1997 Toyota Starlet<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">We've covered a lot recently about how much insurance has gone up in recent months and years. So with that in mind, it might be worth showcasing what you can do with a lower powered and (You would imagine) easily insured car.</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0RwR7ux44XJVtFOATCXsn2UmfAcRYwSn1MXBlB_d_6zTjL7eTD2vpUvVqLh3LKWF4JXn8G1G-sd7tlNvxJEqd5YZMa15S-ugHPoiy_LKFDQRDhyphenhyphen8xOPExQwX_w6jbLMo_FR1tI8l1oC4/s1600/13150040_1188367134531611_1344537883_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0RwR7ux44XJVtFOATCXsn2UmfAcRYwSn1MXBlB_d_6zTjL7eTD2vpUvVqLh3LKWF4JXn8G1G-sd7tlNvxJEqd5YZMa15S-ugHPoiy_LKFDQRDhyphenhyphen8xOPExQwX_w6jbLMo_FR1tI8l1oC4/s200/13150040_1188367134531611_1344537883_n.jpg" width="131" /></span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The feature profile here is a Toyota Starlet built by Shane Cahill. Shane found this Starlet parked up at the back of a house about 2 years ago. It was a faded, worn, tired desperately depressing little car in need of some TLC. Step forward young Master Cahill to save the day!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipotgyHzLFC_tzsfgOf_C3Arwzyrt-1Rc9OAHClSDog3LCWt5ZwQrX7WveZwC4Wfop3M57EsdBXuU3kKbFaRLwNTlkg-cF1-aVVlOv89vcTfDLRi1rba7XokOQIj6obSe7QOBAPw70a_g/s1600/13140902_1188367194531605_1817999319_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipotgyHzLFC_tzsfgOf_C3Arwzyrt-1Rc9OAHClSDog3LCWt5ZwQrX7WveZwC4Wfop3M57EsdBXuU3kKbFaRLwNTlkg-cF1-aVVlOv89vcTfDLRi1rba7XokOQIj6obSe7QOBAPw70a_g/s200/13140902_1188367194531605_1817999319_n.jpg" width="120" /></span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">What Shane has since done with this pocket rocket, is show what you can do with a little car and a lot of creativity. As he says himself, there are a couple of Glanza reps in his area, so he didn't want to go down that route. He wanted to stand out, do something a little different. The result is a beautiful little wagon with a Glanza rep rear and original (almost) Starlet front-end.</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsfi8keChTg_3bPHwE7KsUBQbVUrw5vxc_NhDQFoKdS5Ka_38fB613oMcdi6mR10diCR_mGBP-8BqDBgXqdXxpB-mL6B_loVKg2mlCJk8FSkyHUuK41HS433Rpjw4I5AfO1vxprb9xVWM/s1600/13162258_1188367067864951_760592817_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsfi8keChTg_3bPHwE7KsUBQbVUrw5vxc_NhDQFoKdS5Ka_38fB613oMcdi6mR10diCR_mGBP-8BqDBgXqdXxpB-mL6B_loVKg2mlCJk8FSkyHUuK41HS433Rpjw4I5AfO1vxprb9xVWM/s200/13162258_1188367067864951_760592817_n.jpg" width="120" /></span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">So what exactly did he do to bring this car back to life?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">In the two years since picking it up he has given the car a much needed full respray. It's been lowered on coilovers all round onto a sweet set of cades and fitted a straight through exhaust onto a Janspeed back box. He's fitted yellow spots on the front above a tidy Laguna splittter to keep the car close enough to that original look, but also make it stand out in a crowd.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The rear windows have a dark black tint and he's fitted a Glanza boot, spoiler and back bumper. On the interior he's kept it to the original Starlet look as much as possible but switched out the old steering wheel for a deep dish OMP. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDc62o6kI3YsmWaNE_zNUuTdcH_spE4jKpF9CkS7q-LtmcY7r0sqYBf75rqbNrUhGWfK048e2SwOkdVADp3LvCtWuSFxZzD0hYGhQNF26CE6POmFQotQC-VpoZBKjf1Af0yseUiJzGXEU/s1600/13150073_1190327354335589_1485417651_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDc62o6kI3YsmWaNE_zNUuTdcH_spE4jKpF9CkS7q-LtmcY7r0sqYBf75rqbNrUhGWfK048e2SwOkdVADp3LvCtWuSFxZzD0hYGhQNF26CE6POmFQotQC-VpoZBKjf1Af0yseUiJzGXEU/s320/13150073_1190327354335589_1485417651_n.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnKE_PIxQtbCNVadhevlrjKYEwwSZZq_h6aYt2V0xwg3_Br85YVSST2rz-3bC6AR93B-3muJ89CA7oGyeL9-031b56dvtnRhkp-BYU4_INMqJSCVsdHh5VVN6hLp7MNQIcSVSb4DIGwo0/s1600/13141104_1189977524370572_49418678_n.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnKE_PIxQtbCNVadhevlrjKYEwwSZZq_h6aYt2V0xwg3_Br85YVSST2rz-3bC6AR93B-3muJ89CA7oGyeL9-031b56dvtnRhkp-BYU4_INMqJSCVsdHh5VVN6hLp7MNQIcSVSb4DIGwo0/s200/13141104_1189977524370572_49418678_n.png" width="120" /></span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">There was no small amount of effort put into this car to make it as clean looking as it is today. Hours of dedication to fuel this labour of love. Yet more evidence of the passion Irish people have for their cars. There are plenty of these tidy little cars knocking around, each with their own unique flair to them. Ideal for those starting out but who don't want to stick to a standard looking car. The only thing limiting what can be done with these cars is your own creativity.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">If you're in need of any inspiration, take a look at these other mini monsters sent into us on Snapchat.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">A bit of Rice is good for you now and again </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><b>While you're here! Check out Patrick Foley's</b></i> <a href="http://www.ireland-underground.com/2016/03/patrick-foley-2000-toyota-corolla-e11.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;"><i><b>gorgeous Corolla</b></i></span></a></span></div>
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Kian Griffinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03044093181652045823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6387640899553067512.post-54962480680235333652016-05-04T19:21:00.001+01:002016-05-05T09:27:56.280+01:00National Demonstration Against the Rising Cost of Insurance<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><script async="" src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">As you will all know, the cost of car insurance has risen drastically over the last couple of years. we have finally reached breaking point and now is the time to act. The issue has been debated in Dáil Éireann on a number of occasions, but, to date there has been no political intervention. This is is typical of a government which has allowed corporate greed to screw over the people of Ireland time and again. a recent report in the Irish Times stated that insurance companies have admitted to hiking prices to become more profitable rather than as a response to the issue of insurance fraud or excessive claims payouts.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">In response to this, we feel it is only right that the people most affected by this voice their anger. It is time for the young drivers of Ireland to stand together and push back against this injustice!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">On the 2nd of July, we plan to hold a major demonstration in Dublin. We need cars from all over the country to convene in Dublin on this day. We need local volunteers in as many counties as possible to set up meeting points so that drivers can join in a convoy to Dublin. Together we can make this the largest demonstration the country has seen in recent times, we will take over every major route into the Capital and drive to the gates of the Dáil where they will hear our voices. On July 2nd, we will undertake the largest cruise this country has ever seen. Thousands of cars, thousands of voices all united against our oppressors! Join the fight, on July 2nd we go to war (well not exactly but you get the picture).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">To become the local organiser for your area. Send us a message on Facebook.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">We ask you to write to your local TD's to ask their support for this. Join the event on Facebook and share this far and wide.</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/815074718625063/" style="background-color: yellow;" target="_blank">Join the Event Here</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Read also ;<a href="http://www.ireland-underground.com/2016/04/young-drivers-being-forced-to-pay-for.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">Young Drivers forced to pay for Government indecision</span></a></i></span>Kian Griffinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03044093181652045823noreply@blogger.com0