Catherine Ardagh (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire agus cuirim fáilte go dtí an Seanad roimhe. Molann Fianna Fáil an Bille seo. Fianna Fáil supports the Bill, which strengthens and modernises the current law governing coroner’s inquests. In particular, Fianna Fáil supports the requirement that maternal deaths be the subject of an inquest. The Bill will also allow a coroner to inquire into a stillbirth where there is cause for concern raised by, for instance, the bereaved parents. Between 2011 and 2013, a total of 27 maternal deaths were recorded, of which only three were subject to an inquest. Families have spent years fighting for inquests into the deaths of their loved ones. The fact that it has proven difficult to persuade a coroner to hold inquests into maternal deaths has resulted in a lack of transparency about the incidence and causes of maternal deaths. This prevents lessons being learned that could prevent the recurrence of errors. There have also been inconsistencies in the way in which maternal deaths have been recorded in official statistics, which has led to significant under-reporting of these incidents.