Public consultation on enhancing and reforming the Personal Injuries Assessment Board (PIAB)

The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment invites submissions from interested parties to a public consultation on enhancing and reforming the Personal Injuries Assessment Board (PIAB).

PIAB was established in 2004 and is Ireland’s independent State body which assesses personal injuries compensation in a timely and cost-efficient manner. PIAB assesses claims for compensation arising from personal injuries sustained as a result of a motor, workplace or public liability incident.

Since its establishment the PIAB model has delivered major benefits by providing a low-cost, quick and fair option in injury compensation. The PIAB system annually saves tens of millions of euro which would otherwise be paid in processing costs by the parties, and ultimately by policyholders. However, the number of cases being finalised through PIAB has fallen in recent years.

Arising from a commitment in the Programme for Government the Department is considering the role and remit of PIAB with a view to enhancing and reforming the Agency. In line with Action 18 of the ‘Action Plan for Insurance Reform’, the Department is now seeking observations from the public and interested parties on the role of PIAB and the operation of the PIAB Acts 2003-2019.

The overarching objective in seeking to enhance and reform PIAB is to bring more cases within PIAB’s ambit and reduce the number of cases and time involved in progressing to litigation. Encouraging more claimants and respondents to avail of the PIAB model should lead to cost savings in the claims environment and should ultimately lead to reductions in insurance premiums.

Submissions

Submissions or comments are invited in respect of the questions listed in the document ‘Insurance Reform – Public consultation on enhancing and reforming the Personal Injuries Assessment Board’ (see below).

A separate response template is included below, completing the template will assist with achieving a consistent approach in responses returned and facilitate collation of responses.

The deadline for submissions or comments is 17 April 2021.

Responses should be sent to PIABreform@enterprise.gov.ie  

When making your submission please provide the name of the individual, firm or organisation making the submission; contact details and briefly describe your interest in this subject matter.

Published by Commerce, Consumer and Competition