Mr. Ciaran Breen:

As I said, the cost issues in those cases we settle without ever going to court can be very lengthy. There are other delays also. When one is handling medical negligence cases, one must often await reports from doctors. For example, in paediatrics, which is one of the specialties the Deputy has mentioned, or obstetrics, there are only two or three neuroradiologists who can be called on to provide the required complex reports relating to something such as a brain scan. This takes a considerable period of time, sometimes a year or more. We cannot control the inherent delays in the system of gathering the kind of evidence which is required to ensure that when we make a final payment or admission of liability, we are doing it for the right reasons and can stand over it.