Mary Henry (Independent)

Could the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy McDowell, come to the House to debate the forensic medical services in Ireland? For those of us who are colleagues of the former State pathologist, it is very depressing to hear the criticism of his work that has been voiced, especially as there was no criticism when he was in office. We need that debate as soon as possible, because the gardaí are complaining about the difficulties they are having in getting doctors to come and take blood samples from people suspected of drink driving. We know that is a serious issue in road safety regulations.

I am also very disappointed that in the legislative programme for this session the new coroners Bill does not seem to be featuring until the very end of the year. That legislation has been sought for quite some time, and in the newspapers recently we read about the distress of a lady because the inquest into the death of her four year old child was put off year after year. She had no knowledge whether her child died instantly at the scene of the accident or died later in hospital because those details have to be kept private until the inquest takes place. I would be grateful if a debate on forensic medical services could take place as soon as possible.