Before this Bill passes the Report and Final Stages I should like to take this opportunity to say that I have been authorised by the Government to indicate that they are considering generally, and not merely in the cases where common employment would have been a defence, the question of the receipt by persons who sustain personal injury of double compensation — in the form of damages and of some other benefit — and what legislation is required to deal with this matter, provided that no such legislation will deprive the Garda Síochána of any benefits for which they are now eligible.
Law Reform (Personal Injuries) Bill, 1957—Report and Final Stages.
Question proposed: "That the Bill be received for final consideration."
Question put and agreed to.
Question proposed: "That the Bill do now pass."
On behalf of myself and my colleagues associated with me in this Bill, I wish to express appreciation of the co-operation extended to us by the Minister and his officials. From the outset, the Minister accepted the principle in the Bill and, with the co-operation of his officials and the other members of the Select Committee, we were so able to amend the Bill as to make it more watertight. The object of the Bill was to remove an injustice caused by the successful pleading of common employment to the detriment of workmen. That had been going on for over a century. We were met in full on that point and I am quite confident that the Bill will remove an injustice from our law.
In associating myself with the Deputy Kyne's tribute to the Minister and his officials, I wish also to pay tribute to all Parties in the House who contributed to the speedy passage of the Bill. No doubt, so long as the Minister indicated that he supported the Bill, it could have gone through; but Deputies, particularly those with a legal background, could possibly have argued small points for a long time. Therefore, the co-operation of all Deputies should be mentioned. The Bill may be a small matter, but it is no small matter when you consider the position of those who in past years have been deprived of receiving reasonable compensation for very serious injuries. Even though it may effect relatively few, this Bill is very important and we express our appreciation of the co-operation received.
I wish to express my thanks for the remarks of the Deputies and I do so not alone on my own behalf but also on behalf of the officials of my Department who helped in this matter.
Question put and agreed to.