Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 June 2019
227. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his views on setting up a judicial council to review the level of awards for personal injury insurance claims; the timeline for such a proposal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25874/19]
Amharc ar fhreagra265. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if consideration will be given to setting up a judicial council to review levels of awards for personal injuries; if his attention has been drawn to the urgency of bringing down the level of awards for soft tissue injuries in line with international norms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25359/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 227 and 265 together.
As the Deputy will be aware, the Judicial Council Bill was published in June 2017 and completed Committee Stage in the Seanad relatively recently. I will be bringing forward amendments to the Bill for consideration at Report Stage in the Seanad on 20 June next. Those amendments will provide for the establishment of a Personal Injuries Guidelines Committee. That Committee will be tasked with the preparation of personal injuries guidelines and will have all the powers necessary for it to carry out its functions in an efficient and effective manner. The Personal Injuries Commission expressed the view that an approach of this kind would achieve a greater level of consistency in Ireland in the assessment of general damages in personal injuries cases and I concur with this view.
I am committed to securing the enactment of the Judicial Council Bill before the summer recess and, with the cooperation of Senators and of Deputies, I believe that this will be possible.
