The Cabinet has approved a plan for a statutory committee of judges to draw up guidelines on personal injury pay-outs.

The Government will table amendments to the Judicial Council Bill to give effect to the Personal Injuries Commission report chaired by former President of the High Court Nicholas Kearns (pictured), which was delivered last September.

“The committee will be comprised of judges and will be tasked with drawing up the guidelines, taking account of factors including the level of damages awarded in personal injuries actions, not just in this State but in other comparable jurisdictions.

Damages

“Guiding principles drawn from those set down in recent Court of Appeal decisions, which affirm that modest injuries should attract modest damages, will also be relevant, as will the need to promote consistency in the level of personal-injuries damages awarded by the courts in this jurisdiction,” a Government statement said.

“The courts will be required to have regard to the guidelines when assessing damages in a personal injuries action,” it said.