Denise Mitchell
Ceist:349. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the location in which the Stardust inquest will be held; and if the families have been notified [12575/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 23 June 2020
Ceisteanna (349, 350, 351)
Denise Mitchell
Ceist:350. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the arrangements put in place to ensure the Coroner’s Office is properly resourced further to his previous commitment to ensuring the necessary resources were in place for the Stardust families [12576/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraDenise Mitchell
Ceist:351. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if the Stardust families will be provided the necessary resources to ensure the effective participation at the inquest in view of the scale of the inquest; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12577/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 349 to 351, inclusive, together.
On 25th September 2019, the Attorney General wrote to me to inform me that “fresh inquests into the Stardust deaths are advisable”. On 19th December 2019, the Attorney General issued his direction that fresh inquests be held.
My Department has worked closely with the OPW to ensure all the necessary resources are provided to the Coroner, Dr. Myra Cullinane, for this inquest. Serviced office accommodation, with ICT and telephony facilities, has been provided in a central location. Additional staff have also been provided and an additional coroner and deputy coroner have been appointed. There are ongoing discussions between officials in my Department and the Office of Public Works regarding the sourcing of a suitable location for the holding of the public inquest. This task has been complicated by the need to ensure that the chosen location can facilitate any required social distancing measures.
The next steps in moving towards the holding of inquests are matters entirely for the coroner, given that the responsibility for conducting fresh inquests rests solely with her. As you know, neither I, nor the officials of my department have any role in this process.
There is a legal mechanism in place to facilitate legal advice and legal aid under the Courts and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2013 which provides that any request for legal aid must be made to the coroner who will assess the application and can request that the legal aid board grant legal aid or legal advice or both.
I would like to assure the families that the Stardust inquests are being treated as a high priority by both Dr. Cullinane and my department.