Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Question 86: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his views on the implications for the work of the Personal Injuries Assessment Board of the decision of the High Court of 25 January 2005 upholding the right of clients to deal with the board through their legal representatives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6143/05]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I understand that at this point the judge's ruling does not affect the majority of the approximately 3,000 cases currently being handled by the PIAB. Many accident victims are already successfully dealing directly with PIAB and the first awards under the system are due within the promised nine months time frame, without recourse to litigation and litigation costs.

I remain fully committed to the PIAB's primary objectives of reducing the cost of delivery of compensation to victims of accidents and reducing the time taken to process claims.

The judgment affects those who choose to engage a solicitor. Solicitors' costs will not be awarded by PIAB. Therefore, claimants ultimately have the choice of dealing directly with PIAB or engaging a solicitor with attendant costs.