Seanad debates
Tuesday, 25 November 2003
Personal Injuries Assessment Board Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages.
Senator Leyden spoke of the right of lawyers to make a living. I have some difficulty in this area. When I look at the comparison between this country and Britain, the query arises as to the difference in costs, which are very clearly identified as legal costs. The legislation attempts to reduce those legal costs when there is no dispute. If there is a dispute, then one of the two sides will not accept the PIAB estimation and goes back to the initial position. Ensuring that those potentially heavy costs are excluded depends on not involving those costs that are already there in the first place. The Government would be very reluctant to consider amendments which would go against the objective of the legislation, namely to dramatically reduce costs. That objective will be achieved if we leave the Bill as it stands. Any tinkering with that objective would greatly damage the Bill.
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