A report for the Central Bank has revealed some car insurance customers are paying hundreds of euro more for the same cover under the so-called 'dual-pricing' system.

The Junior Finance Minister Michael D'Arcy has denied he has been "asleep at the wheel" when it comes to the current insurance crisis.

Up to 600 motor insurance policies are to be cancelled after a major Garda investigation.

An insurance lobby group is being investigated by the European Commission over allegations that it withheld

Four cases in which motorists insured by the collapsed firm Setanta may be personally liable for 13 per cent of any awards made against them over traffic accidents will go ahead in April instead of February, the High Court has heard.

An annual database on motor insurance trends will be published by the Central Bank starting from next year.

Latest: Insurers are denying they have dropped their prices because of a clampdown on cartels.

Irish motor insurance is in the dock today.

Latest: A Supreme court ruling which means the state is potentially liable for up to €90m worth of claims against collapsed insurer has been described by one insurer as a good day for Irish motorists.

The cost of motor insurance rose by almost 9% last year, according to figures from the Central Statistics Office.

A seven-judge Supreme Court is hearing the Motor Insurers’ Bureau of Ireland’s appeal against decisions that it is potentially liable for claims brought against collapsed insurer Setanta.

Insurance companies have been accused of “putting lives at risk” by loading levies of up to 20% on premiums for motorists who volunteer to respond to medical emergencies in their communities.

Motorists are likely to be hit with further insurance price hikes over the coming months after the country’s insurers made a combined loss of more than €273m last year.

Increases in motor premiums are being driven solely by the cost of claims, according to Insurance Ireland chief executive Kevin Thompson.

It is not clear how claims have contributed to increases in motor insurance premiums, says the Personal Injuries Assessment Board, as payouts have not risen significantly for years.

AA Ireland has said that the tools available to Gardaí to tackle uninsured drivers are "worse than useless".

Update 10.50am: A junior Minister at the Department of Finance has said the cost of motor insurance is threatening our economy.

The future of 14,000 motor insurance policies in Ireland is in confusion after the Enterprise Insurance Company, which is regulated out of Gibraltar, was declared insolvent.

Car insurance premiums increased dramatically by almost 40% within the last year, as motorists struggle to afford to keep their vehicles on the road.

Department of Transport officials last year questioned motor insurers’ claims that huge premium increases are justified given the “unprofitability” of the industry.

The Government’s review of Ireland’s insurance market is yet to begin its investigation into the cost of motor insurance policies despite soaring premiums heaping pressure on businesses and motorists.

The Government will this week face pressure to set up a taskforce to examine the soaring costs of motor insurance as consumers continue to be hit with huge hikes in their premiums.

Finance Minister Michael Noonan has been warned squeezed motorists and businesses cannot afford to wait until the end of the year for a review of spiralling insurance costs to be published.

Sinn Féin MEP Liadh Ní Riada has today demanded action to combat the high cost of motor insurance in Ireland.

Motor insurance premiums could be on the rise again, following a court ruling today.

Motor insurance premiums went up by 31% last year, according to new figures from the Central Statistics Office.

The cost of motor insurance is continuing to rise.

The Taoiseach needs to belatedly intervene to stop the costs crisis that has sent car insurance premiums rocketing 35% in less than two years, the AA has said.

Transport Minister Paschal Donohoe has ruled out intervening to prevent further rises in the cost of motor insurance.

Gardaí have had to drop a motor insurance database after it wrongly recorded almost half of all vehicles as being without insurance.

The Motor Insurers Bureau of Ireland (MIBI) has moved to assure the public with outstanding claims against Setanta insurance that they are entitled to have their third party claims paid.