Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 October 2018
331. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the action he has taken to implement the Review of the Coroner Service – Report of the Working Group; his plans to expedite the publication of recommendations from coroners’ reports on road traffic accidents in order that local authorities and other agencies can consider their recommendations in a timely manner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43742/18]
View answerThe Coroners Bill 2007 provided for a comprehensive reform of the Coroners Act, 1962 and of the existing coroner system, including the establishment of a new Coroner Service. It incorporated many of the recommendations made by the Coroners Review Group in 2000 and by the Coroners Rules Committee in 2003, as well as those emanating from a detailed review of reforms to the coronial systems in other common-law jurisdictions (particularly Australia, New Zealand and Northern Ireland).
The changed public financial situation and other issues required that a review of the provisions of the 2007 Bill be undertaken. That review remains to be definitively concluded.
My current priority is progressing the Coroners (Amendment) Bill 2018, which has been scheduled for Committee Stage in the Dáil in mid-November. That Bill does contain certain of the proposals made in the Review of 2000 and of the 2007 Bill.
As regards inquests into fatalities following road traffic accidents, the current position is that it is up to each individual coroner to notify the relevant authorities of any recommendations made at such inquests. Neither I nor my Department have any function in this regard.
