Noel Grealish (Galway West, Independent)
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271. To ask the Minister for Health the progress of the expert group established to consider alternative mechanisms to the court process for resolving clinical negligence claims; the position regarding the expected publication of the final report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10318/19]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Government agreed in June this year to the establishment of an Expert Group to review the law of torts and the current systems for the management of clinical negligence claims. They agreed that High Court Justice Charles Meenan would chair the Group which would advise on whether there are alternative mechanisms to the current court process for resolving clinical negligence and personal injury claims. 

Judge Meenan's Expert Group will especially examine the system from the perspective of the person who has made the claim to explore if there is a better way to deal effectively yet more sensitively with certain cases. In this process the Group will also look at the impact of tort legislation on the overall patient safety culture and open disclosure.

Judge Meenan submitted an Interim Report to the Minister for Health and the Minister for Justice and Equality on the 9 January 2019 and the Final Report is expected in June 2019. I am currently arranging for the publication of the Interim Report.