Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 192: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the reason for the delay in updating the Coroner's Act 1962; his views on whether the report of the Working Group on the Review of the Coroner's Service published six years ago provides the basis for reform; and when legislative action will be taken. [16738/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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As indicated in the Legislative Programme announced by the Chief Whip on 24 April 2006, the Coroners Bill is in the course of being drafted with a view to publication later in the year. My proposals for a Bill to comprehensively reform the legislation relating to coroners and the organisation of the coroner service are available on my Department's website having been approved by the Government for drafting.

The new legislation will radically overhaul and reform the coroner service. It will provide for a modernisation of the death investigation, post-mortem and inquest procedures so as to ensure a better service to society in general, and to the relatives of the deceased in particular, than is currently possible under the 1962 Coroners Act.

There are two critical elements involved in the reform of the service: development of optimum structures and administration for a modern coroner service and widening the scope of the inquest. The Bill provides for the establishment of a Coroner Service to be located in Navan, Co. Meath. On the establishment of the Service, full responsibility for coroners, including financial responsibility, will rest with the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform and the involvement of local authorities will cease. The Bill gives effect to recommendations of the Report of the Working Group on the Review of the Coroner Service and it takes into account relevant jurisprudence of our courts and the European Court of Human Rights.