Bill seeks to allow for interim managers of missing people’s property

A private member’s bill to allow for the appointment of an interim manager of the property of a missing person has been laid before the Dáil.

The Civil Law (Missing Persons) (No. 2) Bill was introduced by Pearse Doherty.

Speaking in the Dáil yesterday, Mr Doherty said: “This is an essential measure that would allow the family of a missing person not to be stuck in a legal limbo and to deal with issues like a mortgage or bank account in that person’s name.

“Another element of the Bill is to bring the State into line with what is happening in other jurisdictions, for example, in the North and in Scotland. It allows for an application to be made to a register of presumed deaths, which is a new register that would be established. Application would be made to the courts and presumed death would only be registered if it met strict criteria laid out in the Bill.”

He also thanked the Law Reform Commission for its work on the bill and Senators Colm Burke, Lynn Ruane and Marie-Louise O’Donnell, who he said have moved a similar bill in the Seanad.

Mr Doherty added: “This Bill comes out of a hope that when the worst has been presumed, family members of the missing person do not have to suffer further difficulties than are necessary.

“It is rigorous legislation which fulfils an important gap in legislation that benefits nobody and adds only to the tragedy of missing persons.

“It is only one part of the suite of legislation that needs to be brought forward that will bring much support to the families of missing persons, including dealing with the Coroners Bill and other legislation that campaign groups have been seeking for many years. I hope all sides can support this legislation and I commend it to the House.”