Michael D'Arcy (Wexford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

There is an issue but it has to be said that not all claims are fraudulent or exaggerated. While we speak a lot about fraudulent and exaggerated claims, most claims are legitimate. The biggest issue in respect of insurance is the level of awards for lower level claims. That is the bigger issue by a country mile. While I know people want to talk about the fraudulent or exaggerated claims, the issue is that people pursue claims much more because of the level of the award. If Mr. Justice Kearns's analysis is that awards are 4.4 times higher than they are in the UK, then somebody getting €10,000 in the UK would get €44,000 here. It is therefore very lucrative and very worthwhile for people to pursue a claim whereas they would not put the same effort and energy into claiming or pursuing a €10,000 claim. That is just the way of it. The level of award is encouraging people to keep progressing and pursuing claims.