Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)

Will the Minister indicate when the heads of the Bill will be ready? That would help us to prepare so that when the Bill appears we can ensure its passage through the House as quickly as our deliberations will allow. All sides of the House want to ensure that the coroners' service will be fully resourced and will consequently be the best in the world. I am not trying to delay the passage of the legislation, but I am trying to encourage the Minister to produce the Bill as quickly as the parliamentary draftsman can do so. The sooner that is done, the quicker we can get down to passing next year what I am sure will be a worthwhile measure. It is 43 years since the last such measure was passed by the House.

Amendment No. 4 does not involve any major change in the way coroners operate. Currently, in many circumstances, coroners make general recommendations designed to prevent further fatalities. The amendment may appear technical but, in seeking to insert the words "should" and "where appropriate in the public interest", it would place a more positive demand on coroners. In cases where they believe it is in the public interest to do so, most coroners already make such recommendations so it would not beonerous to adopt amendment No. 4.

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