Tom Shehan (Fine Gael)

Although I could not have predicted Senator Leyden's outburst, the issue I wish to raise is somewhat relevant. I noticed recently that Kerry County Council's budget includes a provision for €350,000 to run the coroners office in Kerry. Coroners throughout the country are generally solicitors, with their coroner role merely a part-time sideline, at significant cost to local government. I propose that each local authority area should have one full-time coroner. As I understand it, every local authority currently has at least two, with some, such as Mayo County Council, having three. Should this cost not be defrayed by the Department of Justice and Equality rather than the local authority?