23.—(1) The Minister may, by regulations, prescribe actuarial tables for the purpose of their being referred to by the courts when assessing damages in personal injuries actions in respect of future financial loss.

(2) A court in a personal injuries action shall, in assessing damages in respect of future financial loss, refer to such actuarial tables (if any) as are prescribed under subsection (1).

(3) In this section “actuarial tables” means actuarial tables prepared by a person designated for that purpose by a body prescribed by regulations made by the Minister.