It has been brought to the attention of the Professional Indemnity Insurance Committee of the Law Society that the qualified insurers, with the exception of the solicitors Mutual Defence Fund Ltd, have forwarded a questionnaire with the proposal forms for the renewal of professional indemnity insurance cover for 1999 to every practice. If the questionnaire is not completed to the satisfaction of the insurer providing the cover, it will lead to restrictions on the cover offered. It is imperative, therefore, that the questionnaire is completed with care to avoid unnecessary restrictions.

The Professional Indemnity Insurance Committee has decided that restrictions of any type are not acceptable, as they would not conform with the regulations or agreements set out in Statutory Instrument No 312 of 1995. As confirmation of cover bearing restrictions will not be acceptable to the Society, it will therefore affect the issuing of solicitors' practising certificates for the practice year 1999. A practising certificate will not issue until documentary evidence is filed with the Society confirming that unrestricted cover has been effected.

The committee has been advised that the insurers are liaising with the profession to solve the problem to the best of their abilities, but they require the co-operation of solicitors who might have a problem that needs to be addressed in this regard.