Dear Reader – It is indeed disheartening to identify with the predicament faced by Austin Savage, as delineated in the letters published on the 15th of July, grappling with an unexpected 30 per cent surge in his car insurance premium, particularly when he has no outstanding claims or penalty points. The root issue here is the obligatory imposition of insurance by the Government, while still maintaining the facade of a free market for its provision. Such mandatory rules erode the fundamentals of a free market, most essentially, the consumer’s choice to opt out from purchasing it.
In such context, it becomes vital for the Government to supervise the market and introduce a system for redressal of grievances for customers who think they are falling prey to manipulation by insurance companies. However, it is disconcerting to notice the consistent avoidance of this responsibility by Irish authorities. Yours sincerely,
DONAL McGRATH,
Greystones,
Co Wicklow.