Vol. 515 No. 6
240 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if a person (details supplied) in County Waterford is entitled to interest on the award made to him by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal in May 1997 and which has not been paid to him; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6629/00]
241 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if the award made to a person (details supplied) in County Waterford will be reviewed in view of the fact he has settled down with his girlfriend and has a daughter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6630/00]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 240 and 241 together.
The position is that under the scheme of compensation for personal injuries criminally inflicted, ex-gratia compensation may be paid to an injured person where the injury is directly attributable to a crime of violence. The scheme of compensation for personal injuries criminally inflicted is administered by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal. The tribunal is an independent body and I have no function in the settlement of individual claims for compensation.
However, I have had inquiries made with the tribunal about this case and have been informed that on 19 May 1997 the then secretary of the tribunal wrote to the applicant's solicitor informing them that an award had been made by a single member of the tribunal. I have been further informed that the applicant did not appeal the award, accepting it on 15 November 1999. I am sure the Deputy will appreciate that any question of a review of the award would be a matter solely for the tribunal.
In relation to the Deputy's question of interest on the award, I understand that the chairman of the tribunal has decided that interest will not be payable and that a letter, including a payable order in the sum of the award, outlining the decision will issue to the applicant's solicitor in the next number of days.
