Michael D'Arcy (Wexford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I have to disagree with the Deputy. The cost of insurance working group has put a lot of effort and energy into dealing with this issue. We are now on the meat-and-two-veg legislative side of things which involves communication between the Department of Finance, the Department of Justice and Equality and the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport. We must also speak to other stakeholders, including An Garda Síochána. We have to discuss the matter with the Office of the Attorney General and the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner. It is not a question of imposing my will on the people in question. I have to bring them along with me and get agreement on the reforms to be implemented. It is the really difficult stuff that we are trying to do, but we have already done a lot. In fairness to the Minister for Justice and Equality, there are a number of measures that will be implemented in quarter three. They include data protection measures such as people having the opportunity to retain imagery and video related to a claim. A person against whom a claim is being made must be informed within the permitted period to enable the data to be retained in order that he or she can mount a proper defence. An improved pathway where a civil court judge says there is a potential element of a fraudulent or exaggerated claim has to be put in place. The legislation in that respect is fine; the pathway needs to be put in place. It is very easy to point to five areas where we have fallen behind, but it has been forgotten that we have progressed 45 other actions on time, some ahead of schedule.

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