Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

237. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons convicted of an offence under section 29(1) of the Civil Liability and Courts Act 2004 since 2004; the sentence and-or fine imposed in each case; the number of persons convicted of an offence under section 29(2) of the Civil Liability and Courts Act 2004 since 2004; the sentence and-or fine imposed in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2437/19]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

As the Deputy is aware, under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts is the responsibility of the Courts Service, which is independent in exercising its functions, which include the provision of information on the courts system.

However, in order to be of assistance to the Deputy, I have had inquiries made and the Courts Service has advised that statistics are not currently compiled in such a way as to provide information requested by the Deputy with regard to section 29(1) or 29(2) of the  Civil Liability and Courts Act 2004.

The Deputy may be aware that the Report on the Cost of Employer and Public Liability Insurance, published in January 2018 by the Department of Finance, recognised the data challenges in establishing the number of initial complaints and investigations through to the resultant cases of prosecutions and convictions relating to fraud within the personal injuries area and the Report made recommendations to address this matter. 

I am informed that while technical issues arose with the introduction of a new "insurance fraud" category on the PULSE system, these issues have now been resolved and the collection of statistics under the new category has commenced. However, as the category was only introduced on the PULSE system on 2 November 2018, it is too soon to produce meaningful statistics in relations to recorded crimes, prosecutions or convictions under this new category.