Kildare Senator Fiona O’Loughlin has welcomed the commencement of the Personal Injuries Guidelines, which come into effect on Saturday 24 April.
The Guidelines set out the level of damages that may be awarded or assessed in respect of personal injuries.
Welcoming the commencement, Senator O’Loughlin said “the Guidelines reduce award levels for most categories of personal injury, and will be used by both the Personal Injuries Assessment Board (PIAB) and the courts to assess compensation in such claims. I have done a lot of work on with this with Sean Flemming TD.”
They apply to applications already made to the Personal Injuries Assessment Board (PIAB), except where an assessment has already been commenced.
The Book of Quantum will continue to apply where Personal Injuries Assessment Board assessments have been made or where a hearing is already before the courts.
“Bringing these Guidelines into operation is a key action in Minister McEntee’s Justice Plan 2021 and delivers on the Programme for Government commitment to recognise the work of the Judicial Council in providing guidance on personal injury claims,” she added.
Under the Action Plan on Insurance Reform, the Department of Justice will report on the implementation and early impact of the Personal Injuries Guidelines by December 2021 and examine any relevant policy response.