Ollie Crowe (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank our guests for their time. Research by the Central Bank has reflected that legal fees now account for one third of payouts, whereas legal fees in cases of claims resolved by PIAB account for one-fortietth of those decided in court. Over five years to 2018, legal fees in only one sector, motor insurance, totalled €500 million, as we are aware. Mr. Newham has stated that the intent of the mediation process is to increase the number of claims that can be settled without litigation and the costs involved. Notwithstanding that, concerns have been raised with me that the mediation process this Bill proposes to introduce would often result in a dragging out of the process and, naturally enough, significantly enhanced legal fees. Will Mr. Newham respond to that?