Paul Lawless (Mayo, Aontú)
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884. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if there is a complaints procedure available to bereaved families regarding the conduct of coroners; if no such procedure exists, to request that one can be put in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23737/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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My Department recognises the significance and sensitivity of the coronial investigation process for loved ones of a person who has died suddenly or in an unexplained way.

All coronial districts, with the exception of Dublin, come within the responsibility of the relevant local authority. As Minister, I cannot intervene with a coroner in the exercise of their statutory death investigation function, which is prescribed under the Coroners Act 1962, as amended.

The Coroners Act does not provide for a complaints procedure in respect of the Coronial function. However, a person who is dissatisfied with a decision of a coroner has the option to apply to the High Court for leave to apply for a Judicial Review of that decision. Further, Section 24 of the Coroners Act 1962, as amended, makes provision for the Attorney General to order a new inquest. The circumstances where the Attorney General may order a new inquest may arise where new facts or evidence came to light. It is open to the family of a deceased person to write to the Attorney General to present an argument as to why the holding of an inquest, or a fresh inquest, may be advisable.

In October last year, Government approval was given to draft a general scheme of a Bill to significantly reform the Coroner Service, to increase efficiencies and minimise the impact of the death investigation process on bereaved people. The reform of the Coroner Service will allow for the Chief Coroner to provide guidance to coroners on a wide range of matters, including the conduct of coroners at inquest. Department officials are currently engaged in the process of developing Heads of Bill, with the aim of bringing this before Government in late 2025.

The Heads of Bill will address all aspects of the Coroner Service including:

• Establishing an independent Office of the Chief Coroner, who will be responsible for setting standards, providing guidance and overseeing the activities of full-time salaried coroners, a model in line with best practice internationally.
• Enhancing the support available for families and friends of the bereaved throughout the death investigation process.
• Reforming the current approach for the provision of coroner-directed autopsies, to ensure that families across Ireland have equal access to pathology services and do not experience unnecessary delays.
• Reviewing the number of ‘reportable deaths’ that are required to be reported to a coroner. Ireland currently reports significantly more deaths than comparable jurisdictions and consequently, has cause to investigate many more deaths than might otherwise be required.
• Reviewing how the service is funded.