Shane Ross (Independent)

I will speak for one more minute. The coroners fear that the new arrangements will lead to delays of three or four years, which would not be in the interests of justice or the families. I will summarise the remaining matters about which the coroners are concerned in the 35 seconds of speaking time which are left to me.

Failure to separate the administrative and investigative quasi-judicial functions in this Bill is a cause for concern. This Bill is primary legislation and there is a concern that it is over-prescriptive. Some of the regulations and clauses in the Bill could well be left for the regulations governing coroners rather than be contained in primary legislation. I also note the lack of transitional arrangements in the Bill, which has caused a great deal of concern to coroners. I acknowledge the Minister is new to this portfolio and it is not his fault. I ask him to give greater consideration to the views of coroners when taking amendments to the Bill.