The Law Society has called for a cost benefit analysis of the viability of a Government proposal to set up a Personal Injuries Assessment Board (PIAB).
The call was made today at the launch of the Society's own proposals to reduce the cost of personal injuries litigation in Ireland.
The society stated its concern about the PIAB as proposed by the Government in March 2001. This approach, it claims, would represent an additional layer of cost and delay in the system.
Calling for a "proper cost benefit analysis" of the proposals, the society said the Government should not introduce the PIAB without first getting an "unambiguous guarantee" from the insurance industry that a "reduction in insurance premiums would in fact result".
The Law Society's own set of proposals recommends reform in the area of litigation regarding how people recover damages for personal injuries suffered at work, on the roads and elsewhere.
The recommendations aim to encourage the speedy settlement of cases, quick and efficient trials when they take place and, also set out to discourage fraudulent and exaggerated claims.
The report contains some 50 recommendations for the reform of the personal injury litigation system in Ireland.
