24.—(1) Where the Attorney General has reason to believe that a person has died in circumstances which in his opinion make the holding of an inquest advisable he may direct any coroner (whether or not he is the coroner who would ordinarily hold the inquest) to hold an inquest in relation to the death of that person, and that coroner shall proceed to hold an inquest in accordance with the provisions of this Act (and as if, not being the coroner who would ordinarily hold the inquest, he were such coroner) whether or not he or any other coroner has viewed the body, made any inquiry, held any inquest in relation to or done any other act in connection with the death.

F59[(2) Whenever an inquest is held by virtue of this section by a coroner other than a coroner who would ordinarily hold the inquest—

(a) the Minister, if the coroner who would ordinarily hold the inquest is a coroner for the coroner’s district of Dublin, or

(b) the local authority liable to pay the salary of the coroner who would ordinarily hold the inquest,

shall pay the coroner who holds the inquest such fee as may be prescribed together with such sum to cover his or her travelling and other expenses as shall be agreed upon—

(i) between the coroner who holds the inquest and the Minister, in the case of an inquest that would ordinarily be held by a coroner for the coroner’s district of Dublin, or

(ii) in all other cases, between the coroner who holds the inquest and the local authority referred to in paragraph (b) or, in default of agreement, as shall be fixed by the Minister.]