Vol. 482 No. 4
41 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Defence if he has submitted the memorandum for Government on the financial implications of court cases by serving or former members of the Defence Forces regarding hearing losses; the further consideration, if any, which has been given to the establishment of a tribunal to deal with such claims; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18132/97]
58 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Defence the number of claims made to date against his Department by serving and former members of the Defence Forces regarding hearing loss; the potential number of claims in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18185/97]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 41 and 58 together.
I intend to submit a memorandum to the Government in the next week or so which will address the options open to use to deal with Defence Forces hearing-loss litigation. I accept that central to the consideration of this issue is the reconciliation of the public interest and the right of those who have incurred a significant handicap through exposure to gunfire to reasonable compensation.
The establishment of a compensation tribunal is under continuous review but in any event must await the development of an Irish hearing handicap assessment system which has now been undertaken by the Department of Health.
Some 9,900 claims have been received to date and continue to arrive at approximately 100 per week. The number of potential claimants could be in excess of 150,000.
