Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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20. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide an update on insurance reform issues which fall under the remit of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25107/23]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Insurance reform is a key priority for this Government and is reflected in the Programme for Government, the Government’s Action Plan for Insurance Reform, and in my Justice Plan 2023.

The Government's Action Plan for Insurance Reform sets out 66 actions designed to bring down costs for consumers and business, introduce more competition into the market, prevent fraud and reduce the burden on businesses and community and voluntary organisations.

My Department has responsibility or part responsibility for 34 of the 66 actions contained in the plan. Of those 34 actions, 26 are complete, 6 are on track, 2 are experiencing delays but are making good progress. As they Deputy may be aware, the third progress report on the Action Plan was published in November 2022.

I am pleased to outline some of the key achievements in the Justice sector on Insurance Reform so far as follows:

• Personal Injuries Guidelines were adopted in April 2021 by the Judicial Council to replace the Book of Quantum. The Guidelines help to standardise award levels for many categories of common injuries, particularly soft tissue injuries.
• The Enactment and commencement of the Perjury and Related Offences Act 2021, which has been a key element in my Department’s work on insurance reform, has increased the range of options for investigation, prosecution and penalties on conviction, which can be considered of those making false and misleading claims.
• The Insurance Fraud Coordination Office was established by An Garda Síochána in July 2021
• My Department has completed a review of the Occupiers’ Liability Act 1995 and amendments to it are included in the Courts and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022. This Bill was passed by the Dáil on 1 March 2023 and is now before the Seanad.
• Following a public consultation, an expert group is being established to set the discount rate in awards for personal injury cases. The Group will commence work in May 2023 and is expected to report to the Minister on the matter later this year.