Colm Burke (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am referring to medical experts being required to provide evidence as to whether a drug should have been prescribed. There is already a procedure in place for dealing with that. Such matters do not relate to the role of the coroner. For that reason, I have a difficulty with this Bill. It could lead to a situation whereby coroners' inquests could drag on ad infinitumas a result of the requirement to deal with these issues. This is not the way to go. An open verdict, as often returned in these cases, allows the next step to be taken. The making of final determinations on certain issues, as provided for in the Bill, does not fit with the purpose of inquests.

The Minister has already indicated that the legislation dealing with coroners and inquests is under review and that a comprehensive Bill on this issue will be published in the not too distant future. I am of the view that this issue can be best addressed in the context of our consideration of that legislation. The Bill, as currently drafted, is not the best way forward. As I said, I believe it will give rise to issues that could be extremely difficult to handle.On that basis, I do not believe it is possible to support it. There are questions that need to be answered on prescribing and we need to debate the need for medical people to be careful about prescribing, because of the consequences. I do not believe changing the legislation covering inquests is the way to deal with it at this stage.