New coronial legislation to be drafted as a matter of priority

An overhaul of Ireland’s coronial legislation will be put to the Oireachtas as a matter of priority, Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald has announced.

The Government today approved a proposal from Ms Fitzgerald to prioritise the drafting of the Coroners (Amendment) Bill 2017.

The bill seeks to ensure that there will be mandatory reporting, post-mortem examination and inquest in cases of maternal death.

It will also extend legal aid provisions introduced for certain inquests in the Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2013 to a family member of the deceased at the inquest in cases of maternal death.

The announcement comes months after a conference at NUI Galway heard that Ireland was failing to meet its international obligations to hold “effective impartial investigations” into all unnatural deaths.

It also comes two years after independent socialist TD Clare Daly first introduced a private member’s bill on on maternal death inquests.

Ms Fitzgerald said the new bill will “provide clarity and transparency for bereaved families”.

She added: “I also intend to bring forward a number of related provisions, already agreed under the Coroners Bill 2007, that will strengthen the effectiveness of the coroner’s inquest and improve compliance with our obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights.

“Subject to the advice of the Attorney General, I hope to be in a position to publish the Bill to the Oireachtas as soon as possible to allow debate to take place in this session.

“I also want to acknowledge the contribution of Deputy Clare Daly, through her Private Members Bill and I appreciate and share her concerns around these important issues.”