Seanad debates
Thursday, 20 November 2003
Personal Injuries Assessment Board Bill 2003: Second Stage.
The Bar Council also said that there is no legal representation, that the Personal Injuries Assessment Board is a lawyer-free zone. That is right. I am not sure if it is a criticism or considered a good thing, but it is a fact. It is a lawyer-free zone. I would like the Bar Council to put that at the top of all its statements on this matter. People should know this; it is one of the biggest selling points we have in terms of understanding how it works. I am a great supporter of lawyers; they are an important part of a democracy. We have looked at how cases are dealt with here and in the UK. Here, 70% of cases require the involvement of a barrister – a member of the Bar Council – that is, seven out of every ten cases. In contrast, only four out of every 100 requires a barrister in the United Kingdom. If the professionals involved had taken the interest in the matter ten years ago that they are taking in it now, it might never have been necessary to introduce this Bill. That did not happen. Like Terrence O'Neill they have done too little too late which is where the criticism comes from. These are facts.
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