A recent survey conducted by the Irish Insurance Federation highlighted what everybody knows, namely, that the number of fraudulent insurance claims has escalated beyond all proportion. It should be a criminal offence, punishable by law, for a person to lodge a fraudulent insurance claim. However, such legal provisions are not in place. Payments are sanctioned in respect of fraudulent claims each day because it can be cheaper for insurance companies to settle out of court rather than pursuing an expensive legal process.