Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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977. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if he is aware of a case (details supplied) in which a death certificate has not been issued to the family of the deceased over a year after their passing, if he will instruct his Department to investigate what has caused the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29098/25]

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. Coroners are independent office holders whose core function is to investigate sudden and unexplained deaths so that a death certificate can be issued. Neither I, as Minister, or this Department, can interfere with a coroner in the exercise of their statutory death investigation function. Accordingly, a decision to hold an inquest and, thereafter, any decision in respect of the operation of the inquest must rest entirely with the individual coroner.

However, to be of assistance, officials from the Department contacted the coroner about the case referred to by the Deputy. The inquest file of the deceased person referred to has been prepared and presented to the Coroner for review. The Coroner is in the process of reviewing the file and, assuming that she has all the necessary documents, an inquest can be be scheduled in the near future. The Coroner’s Office will be in touch with the family directly to arrange a date as soon as possible.