Results 47,241-47,260 of 51,305 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Personal Injuries Assessment Board (Amendment) Bill 2007 [Seanad]: Second Stage (5 Jul 2007)

Micheál Martin: Such hyperbole and exaggeration has not been witnessed in the House for quite some time. With respect to Deputy Hogan, I suggest his party colleague was a little over the top in terms of her description of my good self. With regard to the other members of the board of the PIAB, one represents the insurance federation, as Deputy Penrose pointed out. Another is the chief executive of the...

Personal Injuries Assessment Board (Amendment) Bill 2007 [Seanad]: Second Stage (5 Jul 2007)

Micheál Martin: I will give Members one example——

Personal Injuries Assessment Board (Amendment) Bill 2007 [Seanad]: Second Stage (5 Jul 2007)

Micheál Martin: I listened to the Deputy earlier and I ask him to allow me to finish my contribution.

Personal Injuries Assessment Board (Amendment) Bill 2007 [Seanad]: Second Stage (5 Jul 2007)

Micheál Martin: I wish to give Members details of a case which illustrates my point. We must balance the points raised with the real situations which arise in practice, such as in a particular case that has already been processed. In one leading case, the Personal Injuries Assessment Board made an assessment of €9,200, which was rejected by a claimant. Immediately after rejecting the assessment,...

Personal Injuries Assessment Board (Amendment) Bill 2007 [Seanad]: Second Stage (5 Jul 2007)

Micheál Martin: That is the kind of situation which made insurance costs prohibitive in this country. We do not want to go back on the progress that has been made to date. That is what this amending Bill now rectifies. It will not affect the claimant who has a genuine reason for getting more from the court than was assessed by the PIAB. Deputy Quinn raised the issue of the potential impact of not moving...

Personal Injuries Assessment Board (Amendment) Bill 2007 [Seanad]: Second Stage (5 Jul 2007)

Micheál Martin: If we do not close off the loophole——

Personal Injuries Assessment Board (Amendment) Bill 2007 [Seanad]: Second Stage (5 Jul 2007)

Micheál Martin: Deputies raised various points and I am endeavouring to deal with them all. Deputy Quinn raised the issue of impact and the figure of €75 million is based on a scenario where all the awards are rejected and cases proceeded with through the route identified. There is a conservative estimate that an additional cost of 39% of the award, plus up to €1,500 per case could arise. That is...

Personal Injuries Assessment Board (Amendment) Bill 2007 [Seanad]: Second Stage (5 Jul 2007)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy did not wait for the end of my sentence. I ask him to wait. I decided not to rush it through on that occasion.

Personal Injuries Assessment Board (Amendment) Bill 2007 [Seanad]: Second Stage (5 Jul 2007)

Micheál Martin: However, I put it before a very senior legal figure, namely, the former Attorney General, who gave it a clean bill of health from a constitutional perspective.

Personal Injuries Assessment Board (Amendment) Bill 2007 [Seanad]: Second Stage (5 Jul 2007)

Micheál Martin: I also presented it to the new Attorney General who, I respectfully suggest to the House, is regarded as a very eminent expert on constitutional and other legal matters. The Bill also came through that Attorney General's scrutiny with regard to its constitutionality. Having received and been fortified by that advice, I now bring the legislation before the House. Perhaps this is something...

Personal Injuries Assessment Board (Amendment) Bill 2007 [Seanad]: Second Stage (5 Jul 2007)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy should hold on. I am prepared to take it on board and accept that there may be a need for greater dialogue with the proposed committee and with Members. That is something we may have to pursue further. People may say that the PIAB has nothing to do with anything and is not responsible for the fact that motor insurance premiums are now down to 1997 levels. That is spectacular...

Personal Injuries Assessment Board (Amendment) Bill 2007 [Seanad]: Second Stage (5 Jul 2007)

Micheál Martin: I accept there are other factors and I note that Senator Cassidy is in the Gallery. Deputy Lynch made that point.

Personal Injuries Assessment Board (Amendment) Bill 2007 [Seanad]: Second Stage (5 Jul 2007)

Micheál Martin: Yes.

Personal Injuries Assessment Board (Amendment) Bill 2007 [Seanad]: Second Stage (5 Jul 2007)

Micheál Martin: Before taking that point, I want to acknowledge the presence of Senator Cassidy in the Gallery. Deputy Lynch already referred to the work of his committee in driving the insurance agenda and keeping on top of it. Deputy Hogan was a member of that committee, which recommended part of the course of action we are now taking. Profitability has increased in the insurance industry.

Personal Injuries Assessment Board (Amendment) Bill 2007 [Seanad]: Second Stage (5 Jul 2007)

Micheál Martin: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." The issue before us, which requires the Personal Injuries Assessment Board Act 2003 to be amended, centres on the activity following the PIAB making a formal award. While PIAB awards mirror court awards, as both have regard to a book of quantum to determine the appropriate award to be given, some claimants choose to reject the award and...

Personal Injuries Assessment Board (Amendment) Bill 2007 [Seanad]: Second Stage (5 Jul 2007)

Micheál Martin: That is not true.

Written Answers — Regulatory Regime: Regulatory Regime (4 Jul 2007)

Micheál Martin: On 8 March last the Department of the Taoiseach published the results of an ESRI survey of business attitudes to regulation. At the same time the Taoiseach stated that the Government had agreed to put in place a new mechanism to tackle administrative burdens arising from national legislation in a targeted way. The Government also agreed that I should lead a Government-wide effort to drive...

Written Answers — Import Levels: Import Levels (4 Jul 2007)

Micheál Martin: The most recent full year trade figures published by the Central Statistics Office relate to 2006. While recognising that the level of imports of goods into Ireland is increasing, the figures show that the level of increase has slowed in the last number of years. Between the years 2004 and 2005 imports rose from €51.105 billion to €57.465 billion, a rise of €6.360 billion or 12.44%,...

Written Answers — Enterprise Policy: Enterprise Policy (4 Jul 2007)

Micheál Martin: The performance of the enterprise sector has been pivotal to the huge success of the Irish economy in recent years and Ireland's long term economic success will depend on the continued strength of our enterprise base. There are almost half a million more people at work now than 6 years ago and while overall economic performance remains strong the Government is committed to increasing the...

Written Answers — Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (4 Jul 2007)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 19, 23, 32, 54 and 62 together. The Government reiterated in its Programme for Government commitments made in the recently published National Climate Change Strategy 2007-2012,(NCC) of 33% energy savings across the public sector by 2020 (3% per annum). The Strategy sets out measures to be adopted by the Public Sector to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. These...