Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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42. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the progress on publishing the heads of a Bill to enhance the powers of the Personal Injuries Assessment Board, PIAB, as the Minister responsible for this recommendation in the cost of motor insurance report; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14454/17]

Mary Mitchell O'Connor (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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One of the recommendations in the Cost of Insurance Working Group Report on the Cost of Motor Insurance published on 10 January 2017 by the Minister for Finance, Mr Michael Noonan T.D., and the Minister of State for Financial Services, Mr Eoghan Murphy T.D. is to publish Heads of a Bill to enhance the powers of the Personal Injuries Assessment Board.

In June 2014, Minister Bruton, the then Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation commenced a public consultation on the operation and implementation of the Personal Injuries Assessment Board Acts, 2003 and 2007, with a view to identifying any areas relating to the scope, powers or operation of the legislation which might require change. The 2003 Act had been in force for over eleven years and it was considered timely to take stock of how the legislation is operating in practice. 

Twenty nine submissions were received from a range of interests including Government Departments and agencies, industry, insurance and legal interests, and individuals.  The Department has been examining these submissions with a view to identifying areas which might require change.  The General Scheme of the Bill is now being prepared and it will have regard to the relevant recommendations of the Report of the Cost of Insurance Working Group.  It is hoped to seek Government approval for the drafting of a Bill in the second quarter of this year.