The Brussels ruling that gender discrimination is illegal in insurance premiums has caused uproar.

The verdict related to motor insurance premiums, but it also affects pensions and other insurances.

Viviane Reding, EU Commissioner for Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship, said: "This is an important step toward putting the fundamental right of gender equality into practice."

At the other end of the spectrum, Sajjad Karim, MEP for North West England, said it was "a setback for common sense - utter madness."

Emotion aside, the reality is that the ruling has insurance cost implications which will affect the majority of people.

Historically, premiums have been underpinned by risk assessment, reinforced by claims statistics.

For example, young women are statistically better risks than young men for motor insurance and can expect to attract lower premiums.

At the other end of the age scale, women typically live longer than men and this will have an effect on pensions and annuities and the length of benefit periods.

All now potentially changes. There is speculation that young male drivers may have premiums reduced while young women will face increases.

But as virtually every insurer is making a loss on their motor accounts, it is more than likely that all drivers will face increases.

It is also possible that some insurers will cease underwriting young drivers, leaving those who continue to further raise their premiums.

We should however remember that insurers still have the right to charge premiums based on individual risk assessment.

And what will the next stage be? Will age discrimination perhaps one day be ruled illegal for insurance pricing?

That could be an interesting step towards putting the right of age equality into practice.