Lynn Boylan (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 9:

In page 35, after line 41, to insert the following: “Inspection of Jury Panels

58. (1) Any party shall be entitled to reasonable facilities to inspect a panel of jurors free of charge and to a copy free of charge on application to the county registrar.

(2) The panel referred to in subsection (1)is the panel as prepared for and in advance of the sittings, including any supplemental panel so prepared.

(3) The right to inspect the panel shall, however, include a right to be shown, on request, all alterations to the panel and the names of any persons summoned and, on request, to be told of any excusals.”.

I am seeking an assurance. In the selection of a jury in a court case, people have a reasonable facility to inspect the panel of jurors free of charge. This amendment seeks to ensure that information is available to all of those involved in the inquest. While section 62 may address our concerns, this amendment seeks to ensure that the coroner informs people about what would make them ineligible to sit on the inquest's jury. Subsection (1) is on the transparency of the selection process and making that information, including jurors' summonses, available to those involved in the inquest, but if the inquest is going to be held in public, part of that process should involve informing jurors of what the potential conflicts of interest could be so that they can be clear on whether they should excuse themselves.