Vol. 415 No. 8
85 Mr. Cosgrave asked the Minister for Health if, in view of the rapidly increasing medical indemnity insurance costs and defence costs, he will consider establishing a working party to examine how patient complaints could better be handled and compensation adjudicated upon without the heavy legal costs now expended.
In answer to questions on this subject from Deputies Michael Noonan and Liam Kavanagh on 28 November 1991, my predecessor indicated that the whole area of medical liability was being examined by my Department. Since that date, the Government have approved the establishment of a working group representing the Departments of Health, Justice, Finance, Industry and Commerce, and the Office of the Attorney General to look at this area. This group have been asked to produce a report on alternatives to the present system of establishing negligence and awarding compensation. The role of complaints procedures in reducing the number of cases taken before the courts is one of the issues under consideration.
