Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

I wish to give Members details of a case which illustrates my point. We must balance the points raised with the real situations which arise in practice, such as in a particular case that has already been processed. In one leading case, the Personal Injuries Assessment Board made an assessment of €9,200, which was rejected by a claimant. Immediately after rejecting the assessment, proceedings were issued and an offer was made for the same amount as had been assessed, plus €1. That offer was accepted. One would think that was the end of the matter but legal costs were added on, amounting to €6,120. Included in that was a figure of €3,250 for the solicitor. Those were only the costs for the claimant and they did not take account of the other costs to the defendant of defending the case. This is the kind of situation that the original Act was specifically introduced to deal with.

See this speech in context