Brian Hayes (Fine Gael)

I appeal to the Government to do everything in its power to support the Housing (Stage Payments) Bill 2006. In recent years, stage payments have become a particular problem in the Munster area. I ask the Government to accept the Order for Second Stage, so that we can consider improvements to the Bill on Committee Stage in the autumn. For a number of years, Senator Coghlan has been consistent in raising this matter and now is the time for action rather than voting the Bill down.

A very important issue was raised by Senator Feeney on yesterday's Order of Business. I join her in calling for a debate on sudden cardiac death syndrome. I am aware of a case involving a young man in his 20s who died last year. For the past ten months, his family has been unable to make contact with medical professionals, the Coroner's Court, the hospital or the people responsible for the autopsy, despite repeated attempts to do so. There is no information as yet on the cause of the man's death.

We need to investigate the functions of coroners' offices because, however bad it may be that someone of an older age should die of natural causes, it is particularly difficult when a young person in the prime of his or her health dies in these circumstances. It is utterly wrong that the family still has not been given any information ten months after the man's death, despite the efforts made by gardaí to have the details of the case provided. This House has a role to play in highlighting cases such as this.

I am aware of other cases in the Dublin area in which autopsies were considered after the death of an older person. Information on such cases is sent to the coroner but many months can pass before the latter allows death certificates to be issued. Not only does this cause trauma for the family but the estate of the deceased person cannot be put in order until a death certificate is issued. I am aware of terrible problems in the Dublin area in this respect, although I am uncertain as to whether similar issues arise elsewhere. The Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform should investigate the practices of coroners' offices, so that finality can be brought to this issue as soon as possible for the sake of the bereaved. I ask that we take statements on the matter in the autumn.