The Coroners Society and the Department of Justice have agreed to defer all inquests in an attempt to limit the spread of the coronavirus.

The society’s president Dr Mary Flanagan said the department held a conference call with the State’s 33 coroners and their deputies and that the decision was unanimously backed.

Exposure

“People felt it was the most prudent course of action to take to try and limit people’s exposure to Covid-19 so all inquests have now been deferred and the situation will be reviewed, pending future developments,” she said.

The department said the discussion provided an opportunity for coroners to be briefed on the public health implications of the outbreak as well the work underway to deal with it.

Meanwhile, Revenue has confirmed that the stamp duty on credit cards will not be collected until 1 July.

Stamp duty

Generally, financial institutions collect the stamp duty from credit card accounts on 1 April each year.

The stamp duty due on credit cards is €30 per year per credit card account. Individual credit card account holders do not need to take any action.

Financial institutions will change the collection date automatically.

And extra Garda vehicles are being mobilised to provide increased community support and engagement.

Deputy Commissioner John Twomey said: “As a community at this time we need more than ever to support the most vulnerable in our society, particularly our elderly and isolated. 

“An Garda Síochána has always worked closely with our communities and we continue to do so in these extraordinary times”.

Social support

Gardaí across the country are being asked to actively identify those persons most at need, particularly those with limited local family or social support.

‘Contingency’ vehicles will be used to maintain personal interactions and where needed to assist and support people, and may include collecting medical prescriptions, attending hospital appointments and other supports they may need.  They are not ‘primary response vehicles’.

An Garda Síochána will also use these opportunities to link identified people into local, national and state services where appropriate.

Concerns

Any person with concerns for themselves or for a neighbour should contact their local Garda station.

An Garda Síochána has established a COVID-19 National Co-Ordination Unit, operating from Garda Headquarters under Deputy Commissioner Twomey, to co-ordinate and manage a strategic Garda response.

The Deputy Commissioner currently chairs daily meetings with regional commanders and heads of section monitoring the evolving position.