Vol. 530 No. 4
30 Mr. McCormack asked the Minister for Defence the position regarding the claim by a person (details supplied) in County Galway who had an accident while on overseas duties; if the Department has admitted liability in this case; if his Department paid for the medical treatment for this member of the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3914/01]
A claim for personal injury arising out of a road traffic accident while he was on duty with the International Security Presence in Kosovo, KFOR, has been received by my Department from the solicitors of the individual concerned. At all times the individual received appropriate medical treatment from the military authorities both abroad and at home. Liability has not been admitted in this case and as this matter may become the subject of litigation in the courts it is not appropriate for me to comment further.
Can the Minister allay the fears of the person concerned, namely, that he will not run up medical bills and that the bills will be discharged by the Department of Defence? Does the Minister agree his Department has a responsibility to a person injured abroad while on active duty and that it is not fair to leave such a person in limbo, not knowing where he stands in terms of his future and the necessary medical expenses he may incur?
In this case the advice to me from the military authorities indicated that from the very moment they were notified this individual may have had an injury, all the appropriate medical examinations were carried out with various specialities being involved. Since then I understand the person has undergone other medical examinations on the advice of his legal adviser in the building up of a claim for compensation against the Department. We will have absolutely no hesitation in meeting all these costs in the event of a successful claim, but I can make no further comment on the matter.
I understand the difficulty for the Minister, but it would help the case if the person concerned received an assurance that the medical expenses he has necessarily incurred as a result of his injury will be met by the Department. I appreciate the difficulty for the Minister because of the possibility of legal proceedings, of which I am not aware. I am aware the person is concerned that large bills will accrue to him as a result of the medical expense he now incurs.
The Deputy and his colleagues in the House will be familiar with the comprehensive nature of medical arrangements made for military personnel in terms of covering medical costs. It would stand comparison with the best available to any other sector of society. A concerned and dedicated group of people look after all these matters and that is as it should be. Health and safety must always be of paramount importance to any Minister.
In this case the medical personnel in the military undertook to carry out all necessary examinations as they saw it and what is happening now are medical examinations on foot of the advice of his legal adviser. We will undertake to carry all the costs of those in the event of a successful claim. Outside that I do not have any authority.
In the event of there not being a claim, will the Minister undertake to pay the medical expenses he now incurs?
In the context of what I have seen on the file, it is a hypothetical question but we will see.
