The conference will explore the current landscape of medical negligence litigation and access to justice in Ireland, featuring expert discussion on pressing legal and systemic challenges facing patients, clinicians, lawyers, and policymakers. Topics include procedural reform, legal costs, patient safety, and future pathways for greater fairness and efficiency.

Ireland has some of the highest medical negligence legal costs and longest litigation timelines globally—cases take on average ~1,462 days and cost nearly three times more than in the UK, imposing heavy emotional and financial strain on patients and professionals alike. The State Claims Agency’s outstanding liability in clinical negligence claims has risen to around €4.1 billion, with critics calling the system “adversarial”, “inefficient”, and in urgent need of reform.

This conference comes at a pivotal moment in Irish healthcare and legal reform. With mounting pressure to introduce modern procedural safeguards and reduce the adversarial nature of litigation, attendees will gain first-hand insights into:

• Reform initiatives that could speed up dispute resolution and reduce emotional trauma
• Mediation frameworks and new judicial directions aiming to reduce delays
• Best practices and comparative lessons from international systems
• Opportunities for stakeholders—patients and clinicians—to collaborate on shaping future access to justice.