The Alliance for Insurance Reform has welcomed the publication of the Law Reform Commission’s Report on Capping Damages in Personal Injuries Actions.
Peter Boland, Director of the Alliance said “We welcome the timely publication of this important Report. Right now the Report changes nothing in that new draft guidelines on general damages are due to be submitted to the Board of the Judicial Council by the 28th October. But on the other hand it clearly endorses a ‘Plan B’ – the capping of damages by the Oireachtas – if the Judicial Council does not fully reflect the common good in urgently delivering the dramatic reductions in damages for minor injuries necessary if we are to address our current insurance crisis in any meaningful way”.
Eoin McCambridge, Director of the Alliance and Managing Director of McCambridge’s of Galway said “Small businesses, voluntary groups, charities, sports clubs and cultural organisations, the heart of the Irish economy and Irish society, are being seriously damaged by the cost of insurance or in numerous cases now unable to obtain insurance at all. As the Personal Injuries Commission clearly identified, sky-high general damages are at the heart of this issue and must be cut to reflect international norms to ensure that legitimate minor injuries attract modest damages. Policyholders cannot wait any longer for dramatic, meaningful reductions in awards for minor injuries. The Alliance expects general damages for minor injuries to be reduced along the lines of the Fair Book of Quantum published by ISME.”
ENDS
NOTE: Responsibility for reviewing guidelines for general damages to replace the Book of Quantum is currently with the Personal Injuries Guidelines Committee of the Judicial Council and the Committee is due to present draft guidelines to the Board of the Judicial Council by the 28th October. We have installed a countdown clock on our website counting down to that date.
CONTACT: contact@insurancereform.ie