CONOR MAGUIRE, SC,
Madam, - Mr Michael Kemp, chief executive of the Irish Insurance Federation (October 18th), continues to muddy the waters around this important issue. He has reason to do so. In a submission to the Tánaiste, subsequently released to The Irish Times, the IIF stated that in 2001 the sum of €40 million was spent on legal costs in injury claims.
The Bar Council has repeatedly asked the IIF for a breakdown of this figure, but it has not been forthcoming. Now it transpires that it includes not only costs paid in that year, but also costs which may be paid in the future in respect of outstanding claims. Also, these costs include not only legal costs but other delivery costs such as the cost of doctors, engineers and other experts.
The same IIF had a difficulty in regard to the refusal of its members to supply certain requested data to the Motor Insurance Advisory Board. In that regard, the chairperson wrote to the IIF saying that "if a claimant were as prevaricating, their claim would be refused and might even be referred to the Fraud Squad for investigation." - Yours, etc.,
CONOR MAGUIRE, SC, Chairman, The Bar Council, Law Library, Four Courts, Dublin 7.