Shane Moynihan (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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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?

Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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On behalf of the Minister, I thank the Deputy for raising this important matter and giving me the opportunity to provide clarity on a number of issues. The Coroner Service comprises a network of coroners in districts throughout the country and a coroner is an independent office holder. The Department of Justice has direct responsibility for providing financial and administrative support to the Dublin District Coroner's Office since January 2018. Outside Dublin, the relevant local authorities fund the costs of all other coronial districts.

The Minister recognises the significance and sensitivity of the coronial investigation process for loved ones of the bereaved. Neither the Minister nor the Department can interfere with a coroner in the exercise of his or her statutory death investigation function. A decision to direct a post-mortem examination or to hold an inquest must rest entirely with the individual coroner.

The Minister is aware of the increasing challenges in securing histopathologists for a number of reasons to carry out coroner-directed post mortem examinations. The Department established a standing committee on coroner-directed post mortem examinations in 2022, which is tasked with considering the core issues involved in the provision of a sustainable pathology service to coroners.

Following a consultation process on the reform of the Coroner Service, the Department has received approval from Government to draft the general scheme of a Bill to significantly reform the Coroner Service in order to increase efficiencies and minimise the impact of the death investigation process on bereaved people. The heads of Bill, which will be brought to Government this year, aim to address all aspects of the Coroner Service, including establishment of an independent office of the chief coroner, who will be responsible for setting standards, providing guidance and overseeing the activities of full-time salaried coroners, a model in line with best practice internationally.

In recognition of the time required to prepare and progress a replacement to the Coroners Act 1962, as amended, through the Houses, the Coroners (Amendment) Act 2024 was signed into law in February last year. This Act made provision for the assignment and appointment of temporary coroners where workload demands warrant such assignment. This ensures that there will be adequate coronial provision in all districts pending the reform of the service. As mentioned, the Department of Justice has direct responsibility for the Dublin coroner's district and the Minister has utilised powers conferred on him in the Act to ensure that an appropriate number of coroners are in place to address waiting times for bereaved families.

Shane Moynihan (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister of State for his comprehensive response. It is very welcome to hear the reforms that are being undertaken to address the backlog.

I have a few follow-up questions. Will the Minister of State provide a timeline for the implementation of the Bill that will be brought to Government later this year? When is the expected commencement date for the Bill? I am happy to see the decision to establish the office of the chief coroner. It will be crucial in setting standards and expectations. I assume part of the remit of that office will involve responsibility for ensuring there is a guideline period within which an investigation can be held and a time within which bereaved families can expect the release of their loved ones.

With regard to the responsibility of the Minister of State's Department for the Dublin coroner's district, could he provide some information on the number of temporary coroners who have been appointed in the district to help address the workload? That would go some distance towards addressing some of the public concerns I have received from constituents over the past few weeks. It would be helpful to know that steps are being taken to deal with that backlog.

I ask the Minister of State to give an indication as to whether new or updated guidelines will be in place during this interregnum while the backlog is being cleared, given that families have an expectation of when remains will be released. I again thank the Minister him for his response and for engaging with this matter.

Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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I again thank the Deputy for raising this matter The Department of Justice is committed to driving the modernisation of the coroner service in Ireland. There are many positive aspects to the current service. Foremost is the compassion of coroners and their staff when engaging with bereaved family members.

A number of areas would benefit from being modernised. For this reform process to be effective, it needs to take into account the views of coroners and people who interact with the coroner service. The Department of Justice is working on the modernisation project in respect of the Dublin district coroner's office, for which it has operational responsibility. It is intended that the lessons learned in the Dublin district will be used in the development of a national model once the supporting legislation has been enacted.

A new coroners Act will also review the criteria that dictate whether a death investigation is required, with a view to conducting a low number of death investigations, where possible, to minimise the impact on bereaved families. Ireland undertakes more coronial death investigations than comparable jurisdictions and it is a process that can be highly distressing, as the Deputy said, for families of the bereaved. The needs of those bereaved families will be at the centre of the Department's reforms.

A restructured and modernised coroner service will drive consistency and assist coroners in the delivery of this important service. We will revert to the Deputy on the timing of the Bill, which I mentioned in my first contribution. We will also revert with the details of the additional support provided to the Dublin coroner service.