An insurance company operating in Ireland for less than three years had captured 4 per cent of the liability business in 1997 by underwriting risks which other companies were reluctant to quote, the Tanaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Ms Harney said yesterday when opening St Paul Ireland's new offices.

The chief executive of St Paul International, Mr Kent Urness, said the company had developed one niche providing non-standard motor insurance for "high risk drivers". "We go for a class of business that involves true risk analysis and risk management," he said.