Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Historically the function of the coroner has been very specific, but is being expanded more recently. Attempts are being made to expand it more. Recently, there was an inquest in the United Kingdom which was very much about trying to apportion responsibility for a heinous crime. I am not saying that will happen with the Coroner's Court in Ireland but we must be aware of attempts to expand the coroner's role, which arises particularly with historic crimes which have not resulted in persons being found guilty and the family or their legal advisers' view is that the only option is to go before the Coroner's Court.

I support the amendment. I suspect it will give rise to attempts to expand the function of the coroner in his or her court. I suspect there will be some applications by lawyers to get the coroner to state questions of law to the High Court. In the long term, that will probably have the effect of expanding the parameters of the role of the coroner.

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