Anthony Lawlor (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Like Senator Ó Céidigh, I raise the issue of insurance, a topic on which I have had legislation introduced in the Seanad. During the summer we passed the Judicial Council Bill. It came back from the Lower House with some amendments. The Minister for Justice and Equality introduced it but the Minister of State, Deputy D'Arcy, brought it through the House. I ask the Leader to invite the Minister for Justice and Equality to come to the Seanad to report on any updates on some of the sections within that Bill. A key amendment from the Dáil reduced from six months to three months the time for setting up the committee to look into the cost of awards. The Alliance for Insurance Reform and others have called for a reduction in the level of awards being made by the courts.Is there reluctance on the part of the Judiciary to bring forward the committee to deal with these issues? Every day of the week people receive their insurance premiums in the post. I noticed mine has increased. If mine has gone up so has that of everyone else. This is because either the insurance companies are making excessive profits or they are relating it back to the amount of claims. A certain number of judges are highlighting fraudulent claims. When solicitors bring fraudulent or unwarranted claims before the courts something must be done about them, whether they are struck off or face another punishment. It would deter other solicitors from bringing forward claims that are fraudulent or from looking for excessive awards. Will the Leader ask the Minister to come before the House so we can have a debate on it? Let us find out what progress has been made on the Judicial Council Bill.