Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 474: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his plans to change the Coroners Act 1962; if he will give assurances to the persons concerned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34798/05]

Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 475: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position regarding the case of a person (details supplied); if he will respond to the concerns of this person; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34799/05]

Ciarán Cuffe (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
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Question 503: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his plans to revise the Coroners Act 1962. [34058/05]

Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 529: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if five years is an unacceptable delay in implementing the report of the working group on the Coroners Service which was established to replace the obsolete Coroners Act 1962; and the timeframe as to when this act will be replaced to allow for a proper system of investigation of deaths here. [34579/05]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 474, 475, 503 and 529 together.

The report of the working group on the review of the coroners service published in December 2000 recommended a comprehensive overhaul and modernisation of the coroners service in Ireland, with regard to the legislation governing the work of coroners, the support services available to coroners and the structural organisation of the coroner service. In keeping with the commitment in the Government legislative programme, announced by the Chief Whip on 27 September 2005, detailed proposals providing for that comprehensive reform are currently being finalised in my Department and I expect to be in a position to submit those proposals to Government before the end of the year.

I have personally indicated the position outlined to the parents of the person referred to by Deputy O'Connor.