Steven Matthews (Wicklow, Green Party)
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250. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality her views on the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice’s report on the operation of the Coroner Service published in November 2023; the actions she is taking to ensure that the recommendations therein are progressed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26166/24]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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On 17 February 2023, the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice published its Report on An Examination of the Operation of the Coroner Service. I received a copy of the report and departmental officials have carefully examined its contents.

On 20 October 2023, I launched a wide-ranging public consultation exercise to inform the development of proposals for comprehensive reform of the Coroner Service in Ireland, which closed on 19 January 2024.

The Joint Committee’s report, and its recommendations were taken into account of during the preparation of the consultation and the Committee’s report is referenced in the consultation document. My Department will welcome the Joint Committee’s ongoing engagement with the process of coronial reform and will consider any further submissions it makes on the relevant issues.

The consultation provided an opportunity for members of the public, stakeholder groups and members of the Oireachtas to express their views, express observations and provide proposals on how the Coroner Service might be enhanced into the future.

I am pleased to say that there was a very high level of public engagement in the consultation process with approximately 250 submissions received across both surveys. Departmental officials are currently analysing the information gathered during the consultation process with a view to bring forward proposals for the reform the Coroner Service .

My officials are currently analysing the information gathered during the consultation process with a view to publishing a report on the main themes emerging from the Consultation later this year. I intend to bring forward proposals for the reform of the service thereafter.