Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 May 2019
157. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the body to which concerned families can turn for accountability in circumstances in which a post-mortem report contains serious inaccuracies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22502/19]
View answerCoroners are governed by the provisions of the Coroners Act 1962. They are quasi-judicial officials and are independent in the conduct of their functions.
Accordingly, as Minister, I do not have control over, or responsibility for, their operations or the manner in which inquests are conducted.
Where a coroner directs a post-mortem examination, such is conducted by a registered medical practitioner and the results furnished to the coroner.
As Minister, I have no involvement for the direction of, the carrying out of or the reporting of results to the coroner of post-mortem examinations by registered medical practitioners who conduct such examinations
The avenue for seeking a review of the coroner’s decisions is a Judicial Review application.
