Pa Daly
Question:423. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Justice her views on a report on the coroner system (details supplied). [34772/21]
View answerTuesday, 29 June 2021
Questions (423)
Written answers
As the Deputy may be aware, the coroners service comprises the network of coroners located in districts throughout the country. The coroner is an independent quasi-judicial office holder whose core function is to investigate sudden and unexplained deaths so that a death certificate can be issued. This is an important public service to the living and in particular to the next-of-kin and friends of the deceased. Coroners not only provide closure for those bereaved, but also perform a wider public service by identifying matters of public health and safety concerns.
The report from the Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL) - Death Investigation, Coroners' Inquests and the Rights of the Bereaved - was published on 21 April last. The ICCL noted, on its publication, that it had not consulted with my Department prior to its publication.
On 11 May 2021, senior officials of my Department met with the ICCL and the report's authors who outlined the development of the report and the various issues concerned. My Department will now proceed to examine the report and its recommendations in detail, as indicated to the ICCL.
My Department continues to actively consider the optimum organisation of the coroner service. It has taken responsibility for the Dublin Coroner Office from the local authorities since 1 January 2018. We have greatly increased the resources available to that Office in the intervening period. The related mortuary and post-mortem examination facilities, which are also available to the Office of State Pathologist have also been improved and extra resources provided.