Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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88. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality her plans to introduce legislation that updates or replaces the existing Coroners Act. [32894/16]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy will be aware that the Coroners Bill 2007, which was on the Order Paper in the previous Dáil, was not restored to the Order Paper in the current Dáil, as it needs to be fully examined and revised before an updated Bill is brought forward.

I had already asked my Department to carry out a review of the 2007 Bill, as a number of elements have become outdated and need review in the light of:

- legal and forensic developments;

- the changed public finances; and

- increased emphasis on delivering leaner, better integrated and more customer-focused public services.

That review is continuing and the intention is that new proposals will be brought forward in 2017.