Skip to main content
Normal View

Coroners Service

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 30 September 2020

Wednesday, 30 September 2020

Questions (201, 202)

Brendan Howlin

Question:

201. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Justice the status of section 60 of the Coroners Act 1962 (as amended) and applications by family members to coroners under the section (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27432/20]

View answer

Brendan Howlin

Question:

202. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Justice the status of section 60 of the Coroners Act 1962 (as amended) and the need for procedures (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27433/20]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 201 and 202 together.

The Coroners Act 1962, Section 60 (inserted by Section 24(b) of the Courts and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2013) sets out the procedure for the application for legal aid and advice by a family member at an inquest.

Section 60(1) requires a coroner to determine a request for legal aid or advice made to them by a family member of the deceased. The section does not specify any particular family member as defined under section 2 of the Coroner Acts 1962.

The range of matters that the coroner is required to take into account in their determination is set out in section 60(5). That determination does not include a requirement to determine the financial eligibility of the applicant family member by the Coroner. Information relating to the scheme is available on the Legal Aid Board website.

I have supplied details of applications granted by the Legal Aid Board and the assistance provided in my response to Question No. 24471/20 on 17th September, 2020. The additional data sought by the Deputy is not provided by Coroners to my Department, and is therefore not available.

The Deputy will be aware that the coroner is independent in the conduct of his or her statutory functions and I have no role in that regard, including in the process set out in section 60 of the Coroners Act 1962.

Top
Share