Anthony Lawlor (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister's acceptance of amendments in the Dáil to speed up the formulation of the committees in question and, in consequence, to ensure the speedier reporting of the personal injuries guidelines committee. When we first debated the Bill in this House, we were expecting it to be a year and a half to two years before that committee would report back to the judicial council. I hope its report will reflect what is actually happening in this area and the need for a reduction in awards, particularly in the case of soft tissue injuries and whiplash injuries. I urge the members of the Judiciary who comprise the membership of the committee to take cognisance of the public view on these matters.