Written answers
Tuesday, 8 April 2014
Department of Justice and Equality
Coroners Service
Clare Daly (Dublin North, Socialist Party)
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468. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the action open to a citizen who believes that a coroner has not behaved appropriately, has failed to adequately protect the files that were in their possession, and the steps they can take to have this addressed. [16769/14]
Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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The primary legislation applicable to coroners is the Coroners Act 1962. Under section 29 of the Act a coroner is required to retain records and to transfer the records to the relevant County Registrar on vacating office.
As the Deputy will be aware a coroner is a statutory officer exercising quasi-judicial functions in relation to which he or she is independent. In that context the courts have ruled that certain actions of a coroner may be the subject of judicial review.
In the circumstances the Deputy will appreciate that it would be outside the scope of my official functions to seek to provide advice in relation to the specific matters she has mentioned.
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