Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I agree with Deputy Harty that this is an important issue and one that I wish to address early in my tenure as Minister for Justice and Equality. I have had a number of meetings, one of which was with the Attorney General, in order to ensure that there would be no undue delay in having this Bill, which enjoys the support of the House along party lines and among Independents such as Deputy Harty. I regret that we will not be in a position to have the Bill debated in the House prior to the end of this session, which will be this week, but I have made every effort to ensure that it will be worked on and drafted, sent to the Cabinet and signed off on at the earliest opportunity. With the agreement of the Business Committee, I hope that the House will be in a position early in the next session to enact it.

Further issues with the 2007 Bill need to be addressed in order to strengthen the effectiveness of coroner inquests and improve compliance with our obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights. These issues include the strengthening of the powers of the coroner to summon witnesses to an inquest and direct a witness to produce documents and evidence and answer questions, and the introduction of penalties in respect of non-co-operation.

I thank Deputy Harty for raising this matter. It is my intention that it will be progressed with all due haste.

See this speech in context