Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)

I want to ensure comprehensive reform is a balanced package in which the new coroner service, with its widened remit, has the resources and organisation to deal with the kind of questions which will arise. We must remember that, having given an excessively narrow function to the Coroner's Court to discharge, we have also under-nourished it and left coroners in something of an administrative and legislative backwater. Neither have we put in place all the powers that coroners would require in order to go into issues with their juries concerning the circumstances surrounding deaths. For that reason, while I have sympathy, which I have already expressed in my speech on Second Stage, for the type of reform sought by this amendment, it should only be attempted where we have a coherent reform of the coroners service under contemplation. For that reason, I ask the Deputy to accept my assurance that the new legislation will provide for provisions analogous to those contained in this amendment. The House will have an opportunity soon to consider a broader coroners Bill, and the widening of the focus of a coronial inquiry will be accompanied by an appropriate administrative and legal infrastructure which will give reasonable results.

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