Barry Heneghan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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172. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will review options for a limited no fault compensation scheme for public transport passengers injured in accidents where no negligence is found, as highlighted in a court case (details supplied) to ensure medical and rehabilitation costs are not left uncovered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54006/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport; however, I am not involved in the day-to-day operations of public transport service provision.

As the Deputy may be aware, the possibility of introducing a no-fault insurance system in Ireland has previously been examined. The Second and Final Report of Personal Injuries Commission (PIC), published in 2018 by the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment (D/ETE), considered this issue and concluded that it would be difficult to envisage a no-fault system such as exists in New Zealand being applied in Ireland in view of our current legal and constitutional framework. The PIC also noted that introducing a no-fault system model would have fundamental cost implications in terms of raising revenue in the form of direct and indirect taxation.

Accordingly, I have been informed by the Department of Justice that they have no immediate plans to amend civil liability legislation in the manner suggested by the Deputy. The Deputy may wish to contact the D/ETE if they have any follow-up questions regarding the Report.