asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state whether coroners are prohibited from using petrol in the discharge of their duties as coroners; if so, if he will state the reason for this prohibition; and if not, if he will state whether it is proposed to arrange a petrol allowance for coroners.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Coroners' Petrol Allowance.
There is no prohibition against the use of motor vehicles by coroners in the discharge of their duties and coroners who are the owners of such vehicles are in receipt of normal allowances appropriate to their vehicles.
Can the Minister say why, when coroners have public duties to discharge, which may involve long journeys, they are asked to make use of the supply of petrol they get for private purposes to cover public duties? What is the difficulty of arranging for a special supply for coroners to cover public duties that they are called upon to perform?
I do not think the circumstances require that there should be a special allocation to coroners for the purpose of carrying on their duties as coroners. I think most coroners are either doctors or legal men, and in the enjoyment of special allowances as such. There is no reason in my view for a special allowance for coroners.
If the position is that a doctor can get a special allowance for special work, or that a solicitor can get a special allowance for his work, surely there is a case for giving a man who is a coroner a special allowance for the particular type of travelling he has to do, arising out of the coroner's duties.
Doctors and solicitons have work to do every day, but fortunately coroners have not.
Coroners may have long distances to travel. Will the Minister say why coroners should be specially picked out as a class of people with public duties to perform that is denied recognition granted to others?
There are many classes of persons who would like special allowances but cannot get them.
There are not many classes who have to travel in connection with their public duties. They get no recognition for such work.
Is the Minister aware that coroners may have to make a journey involving a distance of 50 miles, and another 50 miles on the return, making a total of 100 miles? How could they do that on the ordinary allowance?
Will the Minister say why, if Deputies are, within certain limits, given more than the allowance to cover a journey to their constituencies and back, an allowance would not be extended to coroners for the performance of official duties?
I think there are very few cases where coroners would require a special allowance.