Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 2 February 2023
367. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Justice the person or body that oversees Coroner’s Court recommendations and ensures that they are meaningfully applied to practice, particularly in acute health settings, that is, if the Coroner’s Court track the implementation or non-implementation of a recommendation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5430/23]
View answerThe Coroner Service comprises of a network of coroners located in districts throughout the country. Coroners are independent quasi-judicial office holders whose function under the Coroners Acts 1962-2020 is to investigate sudden and unexplained deaths so that a death certificate can issue.
Depending upon the circumstances of an individual case, a death investigation may involve the taking of witness statements, the obtaining of medical information, the carrying out of a post mortem examination and/or the holding of an inquest. On occasion, the coroner may attach recommendations to a verdict. These recommendations are normally of a general character and may be designed to help prevent further deaths. This is an independent function of the coroner in which my Department does not have a role.
