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

The Deputy should please not question my grasp of the magnitude of this. I have put a significant shift into insurance to try to put us in a position where we recalibrate the awards. The biggest issue is the recalibration of the awards. I have acknowledged everybody's assistance on insurance issues in this House and the other House. Please do not question my grasp of the magnitude of this.

There is a really significant issue. Deputy Pearse Doherty said the awards are reducing. That is correct, but the problem we have is that the awards for minor injuries are increasing. These are the bangs, bumps and bruises that happen in everyday life. I have put on the record of the House that if these were to happen in people's brothers' or sisters' houses rather than a business premises that did not have insurance, they would not make claims. That is the single biggest issue we face and we must deal with it by reducing the awards.

Now it falls to the Judiciary. Deputy Pearse Doherty has heard my time schedule, which I have said I would like to see achieved by the Judiciary. It is to operate in parallel with the establishment of the personal injuries committee within the judicial council. It is a matter for the Chief Justice to select the seven judges he deems appropriate to review the guidelines. That can happen. I have requested that it happen for the five primary areas of personal injury insurance. This will set the barometer for the rest of the market and that can be done by the end of this calendar year if the willingness is there.

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