The Gazette 1987

GAZETTE

SEPTEMBER 1987

is penalised for his own wrong-

doing does to some extent act as

a deterrent against general irres-

ponsibility and is a positive

encouragement to a sense of

responsibility towards one's fellow

citizens.

I have yet to be convinced that

a centralised State compensation

system for motor or work

accidents would be more efficient

and cost effective than a private

insurance system under which

commercial and competitive

factors will automatically weed out

the inefficient.

How can insurance premiums

be reduced?

The IIF believes that insurance

premiums can be reduced by:

(a) reducing the number of

accidents;

(b) improving the efficiency of the

legal system and reforming

certain aspects of the current

practices governing the cal-

culation of damages;

driving.

The IIF proposals under each of

these headings are as follows:

How to reduce accidents

• establish a special Garda Traffic

Squad to enforce existing road

traffic legislation especially

drink/driving laws, speed, seat

belt usage;

• provisional licences to be granted

only to those who have under-

gone a minimum number of

certified driving lessons;

* automatic repeat of driving test

for those convicted of careless/

drunken driving;

* restricted driving licences to be

granted to young drivers;

* immediate implementation of

Barrington Report on Safety in

the Workplace;

* appointment of additional safety

inspectors.

• stiffer penalties for those con-

victed of breaking road traffic or

work safety regulations.

How to reduce cleims costs

• abolish trial by jury in High Court

civil actions;

* statutory limit on compensation

for "general damages" of

£75,000;

* no compensation to be awarded

for "general damages" where

injuries are not serious or per-

manent;

* when calculating compensation

for future loss of earnings full

credit to be taken for payments

received from State and, in the

case of work accidents, also

benefits received under pension

and permanent health insurance

schemes which are funded

entirely by the employer;

* improved pre-trial procedures

including automatic exchange of

medical and other expert

reports;

* removal of restrictions on in-

creasing/reducing lodgments;

* introduction of a final date for

agreed settlements which

should be at least fifteen" days

before the date of the scheduled

hearing;

* removal or substantial reduction

of VAT and other taxes on legal

fees and documents.

How to eliminate uninsured

driving

* stricter enforcement of the law;

* minimum fine of £500;

* Gardai to be given power to

impound vehicle.

Finally, I would question Mr.

Coghlan's assertion that the effec-

tiveness of the insurance industry's

public relations has exceeded that

of the legal profession. We have

been campaigning for major reform

of the legal system since the early

1970's but to date without much

success. The legal lobby against

such change has been more

effective. Perhaps the balance is

about to change!

•

REGISTER OF ACCOMMODATION

FOR ELDERLY

IN DUBLIN

prepared by

Rotary International

(Dublin Rotary Club)

Completely revised and updated

since first published in 1969 - by

I. K. Laytham. Available from Hudson

House, Terenure, Dublin 6.

COLIN G. GOGGIN

Medical Photographic

Consultant

Medical & Legal Photography

for cases of Litigation

MEMBER OF

The Institute of Medical &

Biological Illustration

•

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Illustrators in Medicine

and Science

•

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Professional Photography

•

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Cell Phone: 088-553713

Home: 893495

80, BEECHPARK ROAD

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DOCUMENT

EXAMINATION

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UNDERTAKEN

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Heme Bay,

Kant CT6 8EY,

England

Tel. (03 02273) 67929 (24 Hours)

246