8.—(1) The Coroners Act (Northern Ireland) 1959 is amended as follows.
(2) After section 2 insert—
(1) The Lord Chief Justice must appoint one of the coroners to be the Presiding coroner with responsibility for the coroners’ courts and the other coroners.
(2) The person appointed as Presiding coroner holds that office in accordance with the terms of the appointment.
(3) If the office of Presiding coroner becomes vacant, the Lord Chief Justice may appoint a coroner to act as Presiding coroner, pending a new appointment.
(4) The Lord Chief Justice may delegate any functions of the Lord Chief Justice relating to coroners’ courts, other than functions under section 36, to the Presiding coroner.”.
(3) The following provisions (which relate to the delegation of certain functions of the Lord Chief Justice in relation to coroners’ courts) are repealed—
(a)section 2(1B);
(b)section 3(3);
(c)section 6(3);
(d)section 36(1H).