Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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The untimely death of two individuals in the event to which the Deputy refers was a terrible tragedy

It should be noted that the event was organised by Ironman which is a private commercial organisation. Neither the Department nor Sport Ireland have any role in relation to the sanctioning of such events and are not therefore carrying out any inquiries into the two deaths.

The Coroner is an independent official who acts on behalf of the State in the public interest and is charged with legal responsibility for investigating sudden, unexplained and unnatural deaths in his or her district. The Coroner is provided with a number of powers in the reporting, investigation and inquest of deaths as provided for under the relevant legislation. It is important to allow the relevant authorities to conduct their investigations at this time in the interests of obtaining adequate answers as to how these tragic deaths occurred.

I have asked Sport Ireland to liaise with Triathlon Ireland in relation to these events and to provide any suitable support that may be required to the National Governing Body.