The Irish Small and Medium Enterprises Association (ISME) has today launched its policy document on the need for a Perjury Act. The Department of Finance is currently considering a range of measures to combat the "excessive" cost of insurance.
Despite being lobbied hard by ISME to do so, the Department is not considering the introduction of a statutory offence of perjury as one of these measures.
Today's policy launch sets out why the ISME believe the enactment of a Perjury Act is an essential component in the fight against white-collar crime in general and for lower insurance costs in particular. The Association believes that the introduction of a Perjury Act will reduce the number of "blatantly false and exaggerated claims" before the Injuries Board and the courts.
The ISME also believe that it will make the prosecution and conviction of plaintiffs producing false and exaggerated claims before the Injuries Board more practiable.
Commenting on the proposals, ISME Chairman, Ciaran Murtagh said, "It is completely unacceptable that Irish law facilitates the rip-off of Irish businesses and Irish motorists through false and exaggerated claims. We call on Minister Charlie Flanagan to introduce this law this autumn."
Source: www.businessworld.ie
