Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 4:

In page 18, to delete lines 8 to 11 and substitute the following: “(2) This Act shall come into operation on such day or days as the Minister may appoint by order or orders either generally or with reference to any particular purpose or provision and different days may be so appointed for—

(a) different purposes or different provisions, and

(b) notwithstanding the generality of paragraph (a), the commencement of section 9,insofar as that section relates to the insertion of Chapter 1A of the Principal Act, with reference to a different class or classes of civil action to which that Act applies.”.

I thank both Deputies on their engagement on amendments Nos. 2 and 3.

The third and final Government amendment is a technical one relating to commencement matters for the provisions of the Bill. The amendment provides the new mediation function may be commenced separately for different classes of claim. This models how the original Act was commenced in 2004. The Second Stage debate stressed the importance of a properly-operated mediation function. Providing that mediation may be commenced in a staggered manner will allow the board to manage the introduction of mediation in a careful and considered way. Providing the board with additional functions to increase the number of claims settled through its process will increase the number of claims that are settled faster and, as Deputy Shanahan referred to, at less cost than other settlement channels. This in turn should have a knock-on effect on the cost of insurance. I will speak to that at the end of the process.

I again thank Deputies for their engagement to date.

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