James Reilly (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I strongly support the intentions behind this Bill. I thank Senator Ó Céidigh for introducing it with the support of Senators Ian Marshall, Victor Boyhan and Michael McDowell. I also welcome the Minister's response. A lot of energy, effort and thought has clearly gone into this.

The Alliance for Insurance Reform had ten requests and this was one. It is not that somebody would be arrested automatically for perjury but that once a claim fails and there is evidence of duplicity or fraud, a person would be automatically referred to the gardaí for further investigation. The Minister of State outlined to the House how few people are prosecuted for perjury in this country. It sends a loud message to those who engage in this activity that they will be all right and not to worry about it, hence we have all these problems with recidivists. Members might remember the case from years ago where a man with a broken arm sued, sequentially, Dublin City Council, Bord Gáis and the Electricity Supply Board, ESB. I think he was on to the fifth case before the judge recognised the case from another case and said it was ridiculous. I do not think anything awful happened to that individual as a result of his actions.

We need action. We know the maxim: "Not only must Justice be done; it must also be seen to be done". If there was ever a case of that being applicable, it is in this instance, where a loud message needs to go to those who fraudulently make claims and drive up the cost of insurance as a consequence. There are many other things involved here too. I thank the Minister of State for his response and the Senators for bringing this forward. It is a huge burden on business and puts many people on the verge of going out of business.