Ms Moyagh Murdock:

I broadly agree with my colleague. It is probably human nature that people feel that in having a solicitor on the job, they will do better. There is a perception that PIAB is a low-award entity whereas the real picture is that it is a low-cost process and a low-cost body but the awards coming out are every bit as fair and representative of the inconvenience and the injury caused. It is very important, as Mr. Boland said, that we raise awareness of the benefit of going the PIAB route. It is also worth pointing out that insurers themselves have an acceptance rate of in excess of 96%, so they very much support the process. What we need to do is try to get the message across to the complainants that they will do every bit as well or better than they would in going through the court system because they can get their lives back on track much quicker and they will be compensated. In the current climate of rising inflation, a bird in the hand is worth ten in the bush, so we are very supportive of those elements of the new Bill.