Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Small businesses up and down the country have been crippled by massive increases in insurance costs. Pubs, bars, farms and marts have all seen their insurance premiums rise by thousands of euro in recent years. Among the reasons for the increases in premiums advanced to us at the committee were the increasing levels of awards. The Personal Injuries Commission confirmed that the level of damages for soft tissue whiplash injuries in Ireland is 4.4 times higher than in England and Wales. In addition, the level of fraudulent, false or exaggerated claims was highlighted as a major concern by a large number of stakeholders.

Several witnesses told the committee that in the current system there is little disincentive to make fraudulent, false or exaggerated claims.

I accept the Minister of State referred to the first four recommendations. However, regarding the other ten recommendations which are not timebound, will he agree that it would be more effective if a timescale for implementation was put on them?

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