Boost for business as Competitiveness Council adds voice for lower insurance costs

Council wants to lower court payouts to bring them into line with other jurisdictions, ensuring consistency of award levels

The chair of the State's National Competitiveness and Productivity Council added her voice to calls for reductions to court payouts in personal injury claims.

Business activists who have long campaigned for cuts for insurance costs have got a boost after the chair of the State's National Competitiveness and Productivity Council added her voice to calls for reductions to court payouts in personal injury claims. 

Frances Ruane said the council, which was set up to advise the Government, had found "compelling evidence" that Irish small firms were being undermined by the high costs of paying for employers’ and public liability insurance, partly because court payments for personal injury claims are relatively high.