Injuries board broadens its scope

THE Personal Injuries Assessment Board will extend its remit to cover all personal injury cases arising out of public liability and motor accidents with the exception of cases involving medical negligence from July 22.

All such cases must be referred to the PIAB before legal proceedings are initiated.

The PIAB, in operation since June 1, has so far only been able to adjudicate on employer liability cases.

“The extension of the PIAB to deal with motor and public liability is good news for consumers, businesses and society as a whole,” said the Minister for Enterprise, Trade & Employment, Mary Harney.

The Tánaiste also expressed optimism about greater competition in the insurance market following her meeting earlier this week with a number of leading foreign insurance companies in London. Ms Harney said she believed the arrival of several new entrants would lead to further reductions in insurance premiums.

Ken Murphy, director general of the Law Society, said the legal profession also welcomed recent reductions in the cost of insurance which he claimed could not be attributed to the launch of the PIAB.

Mr Murphy said legal fees have been used as a scapegoat for the high cost of insurance. “Similarly, falling costs cannot logically be attributed to the PIAB as it has not yet decided on a single case,” he said.