Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)

I share the Deputy's concern regarding the article that suggested that members of the legal profession were being inveigled into short-changing their clients, whether the item referred to in the article was genuine or a forgery. The Law Society is investigating this suggestion but I believe the vast majority of solicitors are upstanding professionals who would not short-change a client or enter into a compromised or corrupt arrangement with an insurance company at the expense of clients. If anything, the solicitors' profession has erred the other way sometimes by being overly active in pursuit of clients' interests.

I agree with the Deputy that we all want a competitive insurance market. Going back to a point made by Deputy Kenny earlier, if he wants to hear of an achievement of this Government and, in particular of Deputy Harney when she was Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, he should look to the Personal Injuries Assessment Board. If I may claim some credit for myself in terms of achievement, Deputy Kenny should look to the law relating to fraudulent claims.

See this speech in context