Draft guidelines were drawn up by the committee last year and are currently being considered by the full Judicial Council, which met twice in February but adjourned without making a decision on whether to adopt them.

A number of judges have circulated memos criticising the proposed guidelines, but they are still widely expected to pass.

When approved, the new guidelines will effectively replace the Book of Quantum, which is currently drawn up by the Personal Injuries Assessment Board (PIAB). This forms part of the government’s plan to bring down insurance costs in Ireland.

According to The Irish Times, the personal injuries guidelines committee has declined to make any changes to its draft guidelines in response to the memos and has instead commissioned economist Colm McCarthy to produce a report supporting them.

The newspaper also states that District Court judges are worried that the guidelines will increase their workload by shifting many personal injuries cases from the Circuit Court to the lower court.