Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

On the timeline for the key reform all the witnesses are seeking - they have all pointed to the awards being the key issue - we have been teasing this out in the Oireachtas during Question Time with the Minister for Finance and so on but I am not filled with confidence that this will happen quickly. There are still sections of the Judicial Council Act that have not commenced. As to when a judicial council will be up and running, perhaps it will be by the end of the year. The personal injuries committee then has to be set up, which would probably take a further few months, and it would then have to draw up the personal injuries guidelines. I do not get the sense there will be any great solution to this quickly from the process that is under way. Is Mr. Quinlan's feedback to us that this is the only way to do it in terms of a game changer which would result in a more competitive insurance market for consumers and, ultimately, improve the availability of insurance and reduce premiums for consumers?