Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)

I move:

"That Seanad Éireann:

–Acknowledges that the price of insurance is one of the main costs facing both consumers and businesses today;

–Notes that on its return to office in June 2002 the Government set out a comprehensive programme to reform the insurance market and a clear path for the achievement of those reforms;

–Commends the Government for giving such a high priority to insurance reform in its legislative programme;

–Welcomes the fact that the Personal Injuries Assessment Board (PIAB) has been established on an interim basis;

–Notes that in May 2003 the Government approved the priority drafting and general scheme of the Bill to establish the PIAB on a statutory basis and that it is planned to have this Bill enacted before the end of the year ensuring that the PIAB will be operating and hearing cases early in 2004;

–Notes also that another proposal for legislation entitled the Civil Liability and Courts Bill is being prepared by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform which will reform the law on personal injury actions and give effect to several recommendations of the Motor Insurance Advisory Board;

–Supports the Government's intention to progress the Civil Liability and Courts Bill in parallel with the legislation on the PIAB so that both come into effect at the beginning of 2004;