Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I endorse fully the remarks of the Chairman. I pay tribute to Ms Dowling, her executive team and the board. I welcome back Mr. Joe O’Toole who is now on the other side of the fence. The work done is really impressive. Those who doubt public sector reform can be achieved should note this model.

We had a good briefing with the board a few weeks ago in Buswells Hotel and the representatives have furnished us with this presentation. I have since been doing some work in comparing the board with the State Claims Agency which in 2013 paid out €85 million in legal fees under various headings. The average lifetime of the various claims from the date of lodgment with the State Claims Agency to completion is three years for public liability claims. For employer liability claims, it is 2.7 years. For clinical claims, it is four years. The fast and efficient model of the PIAB compares favourably with these figures. Would the delegation dare to suggest different models? Would the PIAB have suggestions on how the State Claims Agency could up its game and, perhaps, look to the board to do its work more efficiently?

Will Ms Dowling clarify the position on the management of health claims, including claims related to slips and trips? If I went into a hospital today and fell over a mat, I would have to go through the State Claims Agency, in the same way I would have to with a negligence claim. It should really be dealt with by the PIAB.

The delegation mentioned redress. Has the board ever been consulted by the Department of Justice and Equality or any Department that has established a redress scheme in the past ten years on involving the board or its model in such a scheme?