Martin Conway (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will not even need that. Go raibh maith agat, a Chathaoirligh, for selecting this matter for discussion. It gives me great pleasure to welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Catherine Byrne, a lady for whom I have enormous regard. I wish her well in her portfolio. She is already doing a great job. It is a difficult portfolio but it gives me great pleasure in the Seanad to acknowledge and salute the work she is doing.

I tabled this matter because I firmly believe the set-up with coroners in this country must be reviewed and updated. It is fair to say the coroners legislation governing the operation of all the coroners in this country is outdated and badly needs to be upgraded. Certainly, in light of recent issues that have been raised in our hospitals, particularly when it comes to newborn babies dying or being found dead, a coroner's inquiry should be mandatory in all those cases. We have seen scandalous examples in a tiny minority of hospitals where mothers and their babies have died and it is totally unacceptable for there to be no inquiry. It should be mandatory to have a coroner's inquest into all maternal deaths.

Having the Coroners Service under the auspices of local authorities does not make sense in the modern era. I know the Department of Justice and Equality is the lead agency, but in all local cases, the corners are paid for by the local authority and that comes from local authority budgets. Many Senators regularly get correspondence from local authorities seeking additional funding for various services. In fairness to all the local authorities, they have made great strides in reducing cost, cutting waste and so forth.The cost over which they have no control is that relating to coroners. They receive a coroner's bill every year and must pay it. They cannot question it, negotiate a reduction or seek value for money. They never know whether the bill will be large or small. Therefore, it is difficult for councils and finance officers in local authorities to budget for the expense.

Unfortunately, there have been many tragedies in my county, Clare, and in many other counties with coastlines. In fact, the services of coroners are required a great deal more than we would like. For the sake of all citizens of this country, and in the interest of the profession of coroners, we need the long promised legislation to be delivered as a matter of urgency. This is one particular statute and set-up that badly needs to be brought into the 21st century.