Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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428. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if there are plans to introduce legislation to reform the coroner service; the proposed changes; if verdicts available to the coroner will be updated; if the term iatrogenic suicide will be included as a verdict as outlined in the Coroners (Amendment) Bill 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40214/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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In October 2024, Government approval was given to draft a general scheme of a Bill to significantly reform the Coroner Service, following the publication of a report on the consultation process in relation to reforming the Coroner Service. One of the key aims of reforming the Coroner Service is to minimise the impact of the death investigation process on bereaved people.

Officials in my Department 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.
• Introducing changes to the current approach for the provision of coroner-directed autopsies, to enhance the accessibility of pathology services across Ireland in a more efficient manner.
• Reviewing the number of ‘reportable deaths’ that are required to be reported to a coroner.
• Reviewing how the service is funded.