New law will enable courts clear backlog caused by pandemic

The bill introduced by Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee, will permit wider use of video links in court, and enable extra coroner capacity to be added rapidly when needed. Picture: Gareth Chaney/Collins

Draft laws will enable more inquests to be held in a bid to clear backlogs caused by Covid-19 deaths, and delays to other inquests due to social distancing restrictions.

The proposed laws will also expand the use of video links in criminal and civil proceedings as part of efforts to deal with a mounting waiting list resulting from the pandemic.