John Deasy
Ceist:402 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his plans to update the Coroners Act 1962 to compel all medical witnesses to attend inquests; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16590/03]
Written Answers. - Coroners Act 1962.
I refer the Deputy to my previous answer to Parliamentary Question No. 362 of Tuesday 15 April 2003, in which I said that in the context of the implementation of the recommendations of the report of the review of the Coroners Service, work is currently under way in my Department on the preparation of a new Coroners Bill. It is my intention that the new coroners legislation would remove the restriction limiting to a maximum of two the number of medical witnesses a coroner may summon to give evidence. The current sanction contained in section 37 of the Coroners Act 1962 which may be imposed on a witness who fails to attend at an inquest is £5 (€6.35 equivalent). I intend to increase this sanction significantly. I would also intend to address the issue of sanctions on those witnesses who refuse to co-operate at an inquest.