The Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly has said monies paid out by the State for legal medical claims have risen sharply in recent years.
This has been driven by several factors, including changes to rate of return calculations and the quantum of awards being made, he said.
An expert group, chaired by Dr Rhona Mahony, has been established recently to identify changes that can be made to improving patient safety and reducing the need for legal actions and costs.
"Clinicians in cancer screening and other disciplines have raised with me their ongoing concerns with what they perceive to be a growing medico-legal environment," Mr Donnelly said.
He added that this has included concerns regarding the ability to recruit clinicians into certain specialities.
Mr Donnelly said solutions include minimising patient safety incidents and new processes being introduced in the Patient Safety Bill, which will finish all stages in the Dáil next week.
