Shane Moynihan (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCathaoirleach Gníomhach as ucht an deis seo labhairt ar an ábhar tábhachtach seo a bhaineann leis an moill atá ar oifig na cróinéara coirp daoine marbha a scaoileadh chuig a gcuid clann. I thank the Ceann Comhairle for the opportunity to speak on what is becoming an increasingly important issue raised by constituents. I wish the Minister of State the very best in his new role on our first official engagement across the floor of the Dáil and I thank him for being here today.

All of us who have lost someone in our lives know that the period between that person dying and the chance to say goodbye to him or her at a funeral is among the most important times for families and communities to show their solidarity with those who have lost someone dear to them. Ireland has a very honourable and noble tradition of marking the end of life through a funeral at which people demonstrate their solidarity and love for a family that has lost someone.

Over the past year or so, there have been increasing reports of delays in the release of remains to families to allow them to commence the grieving process and obtain closure. In a country like Ireland, where the general expectation is that burials should be able to take place in or around seven or eight days after death, one often finds the very tragic situation where people flying home in the expectation of a funeral cannot attend it. One such case was raised with me by a constituent only two weeks ago.

Today, I would like to discuss delays relating to the Coroner Service and the release of remains to loved ones' families. What action is being taken to address that and deal with the backlog flagged last year by the Coroners Society of Ireland, not only in terms of access to histopathologists but also to the administrative staff required to process that backlog? I am aware that there was a public consultation last year. I read the report relating to that consultation yesterday. There are some very worthwhile recommendations in it in terms of looking at the overall structure of the service and providing national guidelines. Fundamentally, however, this is about understanding the resources that are available to the Coroner Service and the associated support structures that underpin it. What steps are being taken to continue to address the delays that seem to be apparent within the Coroner Service? Are steps being taken to deal with staffing issues? Is consideration being given to the extent of activities in which coroners engage, for example, the inquests they lead, to see if there is any need to revise the procedures and protocols around which a coroner is involved in a certain death?

What I am saying comes from a place of trying to give those people who have lost someone dear to them an understanding of a very clear timeline of when they can properly say goodbye to their loved one in order that if there is an expectation that the traditional timeframe of seven days cannot be met, this would be made clear to people, thereby allowing them to plan accordingly and begin to grieve. As we all know, whenever we lose anyone dear to us, we want to commence grieving. In addition, we all value the solidarity of a funeral and our community coming out to support us. Will the Minister of State outline the steps that are being taken to deal with delays relating to the Coroner Service. In the broader context of the consultation that took place last year, will he indicate the overall reforms that will be made introduced in respect of the service?

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