Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 April 2019
384. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health the progress of the expert group which was established to consider alternative mechanisms to the court process for resolving clinical negligence claims; the status of the publication of the final report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17698/19]
View answerGovernment agreed in June this year to the establishment of an Expert Group to review the law of torts and the current systems for the management of clinical negligence claims. They agreed that High Court Justice Charles Meenan would chair the Group which would advise on whether there are alternative mechanisms to the current court process for resolving clinical negligence and personal injury claims.
Judge Meenan's Expert Group will especially examine the system from the perspective of the person who has made the claim to explore if there is a better way to deal effectively yet more sensitively with certain cases. In this process the Group will also look at the impact of tort legislation on the overall patient safety culture and open disclosure.
Judge Meenan submitted an Interim Report to the Minister for Health and the Minister for Justice and Equality on the 9 January 2019 and it is now available on my Department's website. The Expert Group's Final Report is expected in June 2019.
