Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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The administration of the registration system, including the registration of deaths, is a matter for An tÁrd-Chláraitheoir (the Registrar-General of Births, Deaths and Marriages) and for local Registrars who operate under his general direction. The details to be registered in relation to a death are set out in section 30 of the Births and Deaths Registration (Ireland) Act of 1863 and the schedule to that Act. These include date and place of death, name and age of the deceased, occupation and cause of death. Certified copies of entries in the register of deaths (death certificates) include all details contained in the relevant entry in the register of deaths.

Under the Coroners Act 1962, a Coroner is an independent office holder with responsibility under the law for the medico-legal investigation of the circumstances of sudden, unexplained, violent and unnatural deaths. Any evidence provided by the HSE would be taken into account by the Coroner as appropriate if the death went to inquest. The Coroner decides on the cause of death including any other significant underlying conditions.

The Deputy may also be aware that the National Drug-Related Deaths Index (NDRDI), administered by the Health Research Board, reports on deaths due to poisoning (overdose) by alcohol and/or other drugs, and deaths among drug users (non-poisoning).Deaths are calculated from four sources:

- Coroners’ records;

- the Hospital In-patient Enquiry Scheme;

- the Central Treatment List; and

- the General Mortality Register.