Coroner system reform proposals to be brought to Government this year, Helen McEntee says

Justice Minister Helen McEntee said department officials had worked closely with officials in the Office of the Attorney General 'to ensure that the appointment of coroners as civil servants of the State would not impinge on the independent role' under the Coroners Act. Picture: Brian Lawless/PA Wire
Proposals to reform the coroners' system will be brought to Government before the end of this year, according to the Justice Minister.
Helen McEntee made the commitment as she hit back at fears by coroners that legislation currently going through the Dáil for the appointment of new coroners for Dublin and temporary coroners across the country could hinder the independence of their role.
Department of Justice officials are currently going through submissions from organisations and individuals in response to a recent consultation process on reforming the current system.
An Oireachtas Justice Committee report late last year recommended a raft of changes to the coronial system, including the appointment of a chief coroner and deputy chief coroner.
Meanwhile, the Coroners (Amendment) Bill 2024 currently going through the Oireachtas provides for the appointment of extra coroners in Dublin, as well as temporary coroners in other areas of the country “where necessary due to the number or nature of deaths in that district”.
Last month, a letter from the Coroners Society of Ireland was sent to Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, Tánaiste Micheál Martin, and Ms McEntee, raising concerns coronial independence in investigating deaths could be hindered by plans to make them civil servants.
At present, coroners are quasi-judicial officers who are appointed by the State but who are independent of the State.
Ms McEntee said department officials had worked closely with officials in the Office of the Attorney General "to ensure that the appointment of coroners as civil servants of the State would not impinge on the independent role" under the Coroners Act.
She added: "For the avoidance of doubt, the Coroners (Amendment) Bill 2024 does not undermine the independence of a coroner in the performance of his/her statutory functions, and there is no intention to do so in this bill."
However, a spokesman for the Coroners Society of Ireland told the
: "Such a policy change is contrary to the role of coroners since the foundation of the State of Ireland in 1922 and flies in the face of the European Convention on Human Rights and the fundamental rights of citizens under the Irish Constitution."