Vol. 500 No. 1
293 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the arrangements, if any, he has made to ensure that any conflicts of interest which might arise among the group examining the Coroners Act, 1962, are resolved by the group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3595/99]
In December last, the Government approved my proposals for the establishment of a working group to undertake a comprehensive review of the coroner service. The group had its inaugural meeting on 17 December 1998 and is chaired by a senior official from my Department.
Membership nominations were sought and received from a wide variety of bodies including the Departments of Health and Children, Finance, Environment and Local Government, Justice, Equality and Law Reform; the Office of the Attorney General, the Garda Síochána, the Eastern Health Board, the City and County Managers' Association and the Coroners' Association of Ireland. The group also has representatives from the Samaritans, general practitioners, solicitors and patholgists.
I am satisfied that the group, in terms of its membership and its chairmanship by my Department, will be in a postition to resolve any conflict of interest in the event that such a conflict should arise.
