Battle looms over compo costs

TÁNAISTE Mary Harney and the legal profession appeared to be on a collision course last night over proposals to reduce the cost of compensation claims.

A spokesman for Mary Harney said she agreed with the Law Society there should be no reduction in the level of compensation paid to victims.

However, he said the new Personal Injuries Assesment Board (PIAB) was intent on cutting costs associated with processing claims. Legal fees account for much of these compensation costs.