asked the Minister for Justice if he intends to introduce legislation to amend the Coroners' Act so that he can inquire into unreasonable delays by office-holders in holding inquests.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Coroners' Act.
10.
(Limerick East): Inquests are held by corners in accordance with the provisions of the Coroners Act, 1962. Section 15 of the Act enables the Minister for Justice to remove from office any coroner if he is of the opinion that the coroner has been guilty of, inter alia, neglect of duty, and I would assume that this provision would enable me to inquire into a case of unreasonable delay by a coroner in holding an inquest.
I did not realise that the Minister had that power. Is he aware that relatives of Sheila Hunt, who was drowned off Doolin Pier and whose body was subsequently found near Galway, had to wait over 18 months for the coroner in Galway to hold an inquest? Does the Minister think that was a reasonable time to keep those relatives of the deceased waiting for an inquest?
That is a specific case. The Minister may not be in a position to go into that.
(Limerick East): I think that the delay in that case was approximately 14 months, but the facts as presented by the Deputy are substantially correct. I do not think that it was a reasonable time.