Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)

Again, I highlight the work the Government has done in the last number of years. It has rebalanced the duty of care and enhanced the role of the Personal Injuries Resolution Board. I take the opportunity to once again highlight the positive effect that has had. We are aware that claimants who are going through the Personal Injuries Resolution Board have their claims dealt with twice as quickly as claimants who go through litigation. The cost of legal fees going through litigation is 22 times the cost of going through the resolution board. The critical point for claimants who have a legitimate claim is that they are getting only a marginal difference. We need to see more people going through the Personal Injuries Resolution Board to ensure the cost, the legal fees, is not exorbitantly high. We need to see greater transparency regarding the prices set by the insurance companies. A lot of good work has been done, and when we compare how premiums have increased across the UK and the EU, we have been able to modify that increase by the good work that has been done in the last five years. We will publish a new action plan later this summer-----

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