James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I am not entirely clear but I am open to discussing the specialist knowledge that ICTU could bring to bear on personal injuries awards. I can see the benefit of including representatives of the Irish Patients Association and there might be other associations. It is not obvious to me why trade unions should be included. Trade union members are not the only people who slip and fall coming out of a shop. Maybe there is a particular focus on employee and employer injuries but I believe that the PIAB is far more wide reaching. The inclusion of ICTU and IBEC strikes me as a hangover from the days of social partnership, which the Minister mentioned. The inclusion of the social partners and every board going was in vogue when PIAB was originally established ten or 15 years ago. The inclusion of ICTU and IBEC may no longer be appropriate but I am open to persuasion. I remain unconvinced that we should continue with something just because we always did it like that. Perhaps the board needs a different composition but I suggest that we do not make it too big or too prescriptive. The Minister seemed to say that it is open to all parties and none to nominate people, and if they pass the test and get on the board then so be it. Her suggestion has a lot of merit but I am open to persuasion about nominations. I would like to understand the issue a bit more.