Coroners Service
Dail Éireann — 2026-01-22
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Michael Murphy (FG), Tipperary South

As the Minister says, this is ultimately the responsibility of the Department of justice under the Coroners Act. I thank the Minister for her engagement with me over the last six months. As she knows, behind every post mortem is a family in deep distress and shock. Often, these post mortems are the result of a sudden, accidental or tragic death. I welcome these interim arrangements. It is not ideal. It is my understanding that these locum pathologists are coming in from the UK three days a week. I know that members of the clergy have spoken publicly on behalf of families. Delays are already occurring. There is a panel of three locum pathologists, but could we look at increasing that number to four or five? Flights can be delayed or cancelled, somebody can have a bereavement or somebody can be sick. I ask the Minister to continue to engage with the Minister for justice. Let us keep this arrangement under review so that families can have post mortems in the timely manner they deserve.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-01-22/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:32+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-01-22