Insurance reform campaigners have called for a Government commissioned report on legal fees, which is now a year overdue, to be submitted.
The Alliance for Insurance Reform claims further slippage on finalisation of the economic assessment on legal costs cannot be allowed.
This is because of the impact that high legal fees are having on driving up insurance premiums, it says.
"Daily we hear about events being cancelled or organisation's growth stifled because of these costs," said Flora Crowe, grocery shop owner and board member of the Alliance for Insurance Reform.
"We welcomed the Government’s decision to commission "An Economic Evaluation of Options to Control Litigation Costs" but cautioned that the time frame for its completion not be allowed to drift."
"Unfortunately, this is what has happened making it essential that the report is presented to Government without any further delay."
In particular, the alliance is concerned that once it is completed by consultants, the report will still undergo an additional legal analysis, which will take six months.
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The group is concerned that this timeframe could also drift further.
"We call on the Justice Minister to ensure the Government’s commitments in this area are honoured," said Ms Crowe.
Around a third of the cost of personal injury settlements here that are litigated goes on legal fees.
Ultimately, reformers claim, this cost ends up being paid by customers through higher premiums.
The alliance has found in a survey of members that the increase in average liability renewals was 14% in 2022 and followed other increase in previous years.
