Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

997. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality when the general scheme of the Bill to reform the coroners service will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29301/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

In October last year, Government approval was given to draft a general scheme of a Bill to significantly reform the Coroner Service, to establish a national coroner service with a view to increasing efficiencies and to minimise the impact of the death investigation process on bereaved people.

Department officials are currently engaged in the process of developing Heads of Bill, with the aim of bringing this before Government in late 2025. In developing Heads of Bill, the Department will consider key aspects of the Coroner Service including:

• Establishing an independent Coroner's Service with a Chief Coroner.
• Examining various supports available to families and the bereaved throughout the death investigation process.
• Reforming the current approach for the provision of coroner-directed autopsies.
• Reviewing the ‘reportable deaths’ that are required to be reported to a coroner.
• Reviewing how the service is organised and funded.

Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

998. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if there are plans for the Sentencing Guidelines and Information Committee of the Judicial Council to examine the sentencing guidelines for those found in possession of child abuse imagery to ensure that the punishment reflects the gravity of the crime in these cases and to ensure there is consistency in sentencing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29302/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I thank the Deputy for tabling this question. Where a person has been convicted the court is required to impose a sentence which is proportionate not only to the crime, but to the individual offender, identifying where on the sentencing range the particular case should lie and then applying any mitigating factors which may be present. In doing so the courts are, subject only to the Constitution and the law, independent in the exercise of that judicial function.

In 2019, the Judicial Council was created pursuant to the Judicial Council Act 2019 to promote judicial independence as well as to ensure public confidence in the administration of justice. The Council is an independent body whose members are all judges in Ireland.

The Judicial Council Act 2019 also provided for the establishment of the Sentencing Guidelines and Information Committee of the Judicial Council. The Committee was established in 2020, and its functions include the preparation of draft sentencing guidelines and the monitoring of the operation of those guidelines, together with the collation of information on sentences imposed by the courts and the dissemination of that information to judges and others.

In 2023, the Judicial Council Sentencing Guidelines and Information Committee published its Guideline Development Procedure, which can be accessed on the Council's website. This document, informed by the legislative framework and best practice in other jurisdictions, sets out the procedure that the Committee will follow in developing sentencing guidelines.

My Department is advised that the Committee intends to produce guidelines for specific offences and classes of offences, as is contemplated by Section 91(1) of the Judicial Council Act. To date the Committee has advised that it is preparing guidance on dangerous driving causing death and is conducting research into sentences concerning manslaughter. The Council has also examined offences captured by Section 40 of the Domestic Violence Act 2018. In this regard, on 16 May 2025, the Committee’s report on sentencing in relation to offences captured by such domestic violence legislation was published. The report was reviewed by the Board of the Judicial Council and has been published by way of information and assistance for sentencing judges. Formal adoption of the guideline by the entire Judicial Council has not yet occurred.