A leading insurance provider has said there needs to be consequences for making fraudulent claims.
It is after the latest figures show motor insurance premiums made a 26% jump in September, compared to the same time last year.
The figures published yesterday by the Central Statistics Office, mean that an average €600 policy will have gone up by about €160 during that time.
Brendan Nevin, CEO of AA Ireland, says fraudulent claims are contributing to higher premiums and need to be treated like theft.
“Other than the person you are stealing from is perhaps an insurance company, which many people don’t like very much, rather than an individual citizen,” Mr Nevin said.
“I mean it is theft, how could it not be theft, it is very rare to see someone actually get punished for making a fraudulent claim, it is not that they all get through, you know some of them clearly are refused by the courts which is a welcome thing, but where are the consequences for making a fraudulent claim?”