Eamon Scanlon (Fianna Fail)

Insurance companies will have the best and most expensive legal advice available to them and claimants, if they so wish, should be able to use a solicitor to deal with the PIAB. That would be a fair way of doing business. There is genuine concern that such people may not get a fair opportunity. There are people who do not even like to fill out application forms and who come to public representatives to help them to do so. I can imagine how such people might feel if they had to face the Personal Injuries Assessment Board on their own and I can envisage them being reluctant to do so. They should be allowed, if they wish, to have a solicitor represent them at a hearing.