Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The Coroners (Amendment) Act 2024, which the President signed into law on 16 February, is intended to ensure continuity of coroner services in the Dublin district. The Dublin district had been operating on the basis of temporary provisions not suited to the needs of a bust office or the development of a high quality service into the future. More broadly, I am committed to bringing proposals to Government in relation to overall reform of the coroner service later this year.

Section 2 of the Act provides that the Minister for Justice, with the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform, stipulates the terms and conditions under which appointments of coroners for the Dublin district will be made. This section further provides for coroners in the Dublin district to be appointed as civil servants of the State.

The decision to classify coroners as civil servants facilitates and regularises appropriate pay and pensions provisions for these important roles. This will provide a sustainable and efficient basis for these appointments as the service modernises over the coming years.

Officials in my Department worked closely with officials in the Office of the Attorney General to ensure that the appointment of coroners as civil servants of the State would not impinge on the independent role of the coroner under the Coroners Act 1962.

I am satisfied that the designation of a coroner as a “Civil Servant of the State” is not inconsistent with the independent nature of the office. I can assure that Deputy that there is no intention to undermine the independence of the role in this Act, or indeed as part of the wider reform programme.