Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)

Senator McDowell is correct that currently many insurers pay up small amounts because it is cheaper than going to court. A person might accept €2,000 to €5,000, for example, which amount would not obtain much in terms of expert advice. Under the new arrangement all the legislation, particularly the Civil Liability and Courts Bill initiated by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, will result in a new regime and we will see respondents contesting cases where they believe somebody is either exaggerating his or her injury or making a fraudulent claim. Cases such as these might have been let go through the system in the past.