Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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276. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to update the Succession Act 1965; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50015/19]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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While I have no immediate plans to amend the Succession Act 1965, the operation of the law in this area is kept under on-going review in my Department.

In this context, I should add that the Joint Committee on Justice and Equality has engaged in pre-legislative scrutiny of the Civil Liability (Amendment) (Prevention of Benefits from Homicide) Bill 2017 and I am currently awaiting the Committee’s Report on the Bill.

The objective of this Private Members Bill is to provide for the effects in civil law of the following principles:

That a person should be precluded from benefitting from committing any homicide;

No cause of action arises from one's own wrongful act.

My Department is working with the Office of the Attorney General to finalise Committee Stage amendments to the Private Members Bill. The Bill raises a number of complex legal issues, which are being addressed with the Office of the Attorney General. Resolution of those issues may require amendments to the Succession Act 1965.