Vol. 553 No. 7
263 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when it is proposed to establish a set of guidelines on damages for personal injuries, to require certain forms of action to be supported by sworn affidavits in order to create a liability of perjury for fraudulent claims, and to ban no foal no fee advertising by solicitors. [15292/02]
The measures to which the Deputy refers are all contained in the Agreed Programme for Government between Fianna Fáil and the Progressive Democrats and, as such, will be implemented during our term of office. The time scale for each will depend on how quickly it can be progressed.
With reference to the issue of establishing guidelines for damages for personal injuries, the Courts Service will set up a database of awards made by the courts in personal injury cases.
My Department is examining how best a requirement that certain forms of action be supported by sworn affidavit might be imposed so as to create a liability in perjury for fraudulent claims.
A ban on no foal no fee advertising by solicitors is provided for in section 4 of the Solicitors (Amendment) Act, 2002. This provision along with the other provisions in the Act on advertising by solicitors have yet to be commenced. The Law Society is preparing regulations which are necessary to give full effect to the provisions and, when these are ready, the provisions will be commenced. My priority is that this should happen as soon as possible.
