The Department of Enterprise and Employment has defended the preliminary report of the Motor Insurance Advisory Board. The report - which was made public at the weekend - has found that young drivers produce larger profits for the industry than most other categories. It also concluded that women drivers are contributing more than their fair share of profits.
The Irish Insurance Federation has disputed the findings of the board, which were based on data provided by its members. The report calls into question the claim by motor insurance companies that young drivers are an unprofitable risk, and that exceptionally high premiums are justified.
The IIF said there were problems both with the methodology used by the MIAB and its findings.
A spokesman for the Tanaiste said yesterday that although the report was based on incomplete data "that does not mean the results are wrong".
He said that the Department did not want to comment further until the final report of the board was presented later in the year. It will take into account a number of problems with the original data that had now been rectified, he said.
