Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Deputy Scanlon's is totally correct. The Minister talks about the independent legal role of the coroner and that is absolutely and totally accepted. While acknowledging that, however, we have of course already got legislation placing a mandatory requirement on them to carry out inquests in a number of cases. We are just adding maternal deaths to that category for all of the reasons Deputy Scanlon highlighted. The only objection was that we do not want inadvertently to damage or harm bereaved families. That is the purpose of this opt-out clause. The very reason this legislation is tabled and the reason there is a bit more awareness of it among coroners is that it was precisely the families who led the battle to get this information. It would be incredibly unusual for a family not to want to get the answers. These are instances in which the partner or family may have been present and may have a difference with the hospital. The hospital could be saying everything is grand and there is nothing to see here. However, the partner or family members who were there with the woman may have seen a sequence of events for which they want answers. Families want answers and we should not be afraid of that. Our amendment provides a better balance; this is about mandatory inquests. We can look at tweaking the consultation part on Report Stage but I will be pressing it now. If the Minister wants to reflect on it over Christmas, by all means, he may do so, but I am happier to go with our wording now. If the Minister wants to come back with something different in respect of the consultation issue on Report Stage, that is fine. It is critical that we move on this now.