Michael McAleer answers your queries
From Ian Given: I find it strange that there is no mention of the fact that Hibernian have pulled out of the motorcycle insurance market - I would have been interested to hear John Wheeler's views on the matter.
Hibernian, on their website, says that this is largely due to claims arising from injury to pillion passengers. They state that the majority of these injuries arise from riders on provisional licences who legally cannot carry passengers . My question is why then were Hibernian paying out on claims in cases where provisional licence holder's policies have clearly been invalidated?
John Wheeler replies: EU law requires that all motorcycle policies provide cover for a pillion passenger, whether or not the rider is legally permitted to carry a passenger (which Provisional Licence holders are not) and/or whether or not the machine was designed to carry a passenger.
When this law came into effect it was inevitable that it would lead to both higher claims and higher premiums.
Hibernian is not alone in today's business environment in placing share value way ahead of any customer service, oblivious of the fact that erstwhile motorcycle customers could also have car, house, life and pensions business with them.
From Marian Molloy, Dublin 11: Almost every morning on my journey to work from Glasnevin to Ballyfermot I get stuck behind a JCB as it trundles along at 15mph, forcing its way down residential roads with cars parked on either side, a line of traffic tailed back behind it and oncoming cars pulling in to let it pass.
Its driver obviously uses it to get to and from work, and I have no idea how far he travels on the open road before I meet him around the Met Office and after I escape from him at Cherry Orchard. Is this legal?
The vehicle has a registration plate but surely construction equipment should be confined to driving on building sites and a reasonable distance around them and not be used as a mode of transport for commuting across the city?
I've tried changing my departure time by a few minutes but I always seem to end up behind him somewhere en route!
I would be grateful if you could clarify the position regarding these vehicles on public roads.
According to a spokesperson for the Department of Transport, if the vehicle is taxed, insured and registered, then the JCB driver is fully entitled to drive it on the road.
Unlike some other European countries, there's no obligation upon the driver of such vehicles to pull in and let traffic past.
In some countries, if there is more than three vehicles behind a slow moving tractor or truck, the driver is expected to pull in when safe to do so and let the traffic clear.
Of course the driver can be prosecuted for driving too slow, but given that the traffic flow is already at a snail's pace at that time of the morning, it's hard to see if you would have a case.
What's needed here is a better regulation of the rules regarding such vehicles.
From Shane Buckley: I'm looking for advice on buying a car for my mother. She currently drives a Toyota Corolla hatchback, but now wants a car with air conditioning.
She has also, after some persuasion, warmed to the idea of driving an automatic. The car needs to be a four door and have a decent sized boot. However, it cannot be too big (I never said it would be easy). Finally, economy is more important than speed. There is no set budget.
With no budget set, I guess I should really keep the price bracket something similar to the Corolla, so roughly about €20,000 to €25,000 on list price.
The problem is that in the Corolla class, you really only get 1.6-litre versions and upwards with automatic gearboxes. There is another option: a 1.4-litre 16V Skoda Fabia saloon with automatic in Elegance trim with air conditioning at €20,740.
When you add air-con and automatic you start to add euros to the price in most cases, so for Corolla-sized competitors, you're looking at closer to €25,000.
I think the Fabia should suit your mother and it's well priced. While it's not exactly racy, it does manage an official combined fuel consumption of 37.7mpg.
Send your queries to: Motors Help Desk, The Irish Times, Fleet Street, Dublin 2 - or e-mail them to motorshelp@irish-times.ie