Letter to the Editor: Counting the costs of compo culture to our modern society

Considering how many people have claimed some form of compo, it is hard not to feel a degree of sympathy towards Maria Bailey — she is perhaps bewildered as to why she has been singled out for special attention. The decisive factors are probably her status not only as a public representative, but of a party supposed to be getting tough on compo culture. It’s an unfortunate context in which to be making a claim.

It also comes at a time when Ireland may finally be waking up to the fact that compo culture is no private matter. It touches all of us: Driving up premiums, strangling community life, closing small businesses, even restricting childhood as children are barely permitted to rough-and-tumble in schools or parks for fear of litigation. We see an unprecedented number of judges — perhaps mindful of which way the wind is blowing — dismissing claims; and even at times suggesting charges be brought against those suspected of making false claims. One might ask why all this took so long or why Ms Bailey’s case had to be Ireland’s watershed moment. It’s hard not to conclude it suited some sectors, such as the legal profession, as — despite the efforts of the PIAB — it has provided a steady source of work and income but at what cost to society at large?