Vol. 558 No. 6
22 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if her attention has been drawn to concerns that the proposed personal injury assessment board will not lead to a reduction in insurance premia; and if she has fully satisfied herself with the merits of the proposal. [24895/02]
28 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment her views on the possibility that the proposed personal injuries assessment board may be an additional expensive tier in the compensation system leading to bigger awards; and her further views on whether this aspect is worthy of further independent examination. [24894/02]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 22 and 28 together.
An Agreed Programme for Government contains a commitment to establish a personal injuries assessment board, PIAB. In October 2002 the Government mandated me to set up the PIAB on an interim basis, pending preparation of the legislation necessary to put the PIAB on a statutory footing. The aim of establishing the PIAB is a reduction in the delivery cost of compensation.
The various views put forward recently are not in conflict with setting up the PIAB. Those views have in essence focused on the need to reform the court system and court procedures. I would have no problem in accepting that such reforms are needed – the key reforms advocated have already been recommended in the report of the Motor Insurance Advisory Board, MIAB. I would see the establishment of the PIAB and the introduction of court reforms not as alternative approaches but, rather, as going hand-in-hand and being mutually re-enforcing.
