Sharon Keogan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I second the Bill. The Minister of State is very welcome to the House. I am glad to be here to support the Bill this evening. A lot of work has gone into it. I commend my Independent colleague, Senator Mullen, on bringing it forward. We are always in need of keen-eyed legislators who can spot areas where the law is falling down and there is work to be done. That is what we are here to do, to make the law as good as we can and improve it as much as we can.

Fraud is a constant problem in this country, as it is in many countries. Unscrupulous individuals seek to exploit the mechanisms existing to reimburse those who have suffered genuine wrongs. It is disappointing to think that the operation of the Personal Injuries Assessment Board has been obstructed for almost 20 years by an unknown number of claims that incorporate falsified information. This Bill will bring about a long overdue rectification. I hope the Government will see the logic of the Bill and pass it quickly through both Houses.