Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 14 February 2024
257. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Justice if she will address concerns raised by the Coroners Society of Ireland (details supplied) around the pay and conditions of its members; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7018/24]
View answerThe Coroners (Amendment) Bill 2024 is an urgent measure intended to ensure continuity of Coroner service in the Dublin district. More broadly, I am committed to bringing proposals to Government in relation to overall reform of the coroner service later this year.
Section 2 of the Coroners (Amendment) Bill 2024 provides that the Minister for Justice, with the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform, stipulates the terms and conditions under which appointments of coroners for the Dublin district will be made. This section further provides for coroners in the Dublin district to be appointed as civil servants of the State.
Officials in my Department worked closely with officials in the Office of the Attorney General to ensure that the appointment of coroners as civil servants of the State would not impinge on the independent role of the coroner under the Coroners Act 1962 as amended (the Act).
I am satisfied that the designation of a coroner as a “Civil Servant of the State” is not inconsistent with the independent nature of the office. Furthermore, there are numerous examples of civil servants of the State having independent powers.
For the avoidance of doubt, the Coroners (Amendment) Bill 2024 does not undermine the independence of a coroner in the performance of his/her statutory functions, and there is no intention to do so in this Bill, or indeed as part of the wider reform programme.
Section 3 of the Bill provides that future appointments to the Dublin district will be for a term not exceeding 5 years, renewable once with the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure NDP Delivery and Reform.
The Bill provides greater stability for the Dublin district by providing for the appointment of coroners to the district on an initial 5 year term. This reflects the need to meet the requirements of a very busy district, which has since 2016 operated on the basis of temporary assignments. It should also be noted that 5 year terms are standard for many senior level roles in the public service, for example the Commissioner for Data Protection, the Media Development Commissioner and the Commissioner for Communications Regulations.
Finally, I can advise the Deputy that I have recently responded to correspondence from the Coroners Society of Ireland regarding the above issues and that officials in my Department continue to engage with the society on the modernisation of the service generally.
