asked the Minister for Health whether, as reported, the medical officer of Achill and the hospital authority at Castlebar, County Mayo, have both refused to register the birth of a child born on the way to the hospital at Castlebar; and if he will give a ruling in the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Registration of Birth of Mayo Child.
5.
Under the Registration Acts, a birth is registrable in the district in which it occurs when it is possible to ascertain the place where the event happened. It is understood that the birth in question occurred in the Registrar's district of Newport so that the birth should be registered in that district and not in the district in which the parents reside.
It is the duty of the father or the mother of the child to register the birth. In default of the father or the mother, however, any person present at the birth is qualified to register it. As the birth did not take place in the County Hospital, Castlebar, the Authorities of that institution would not be qualified under the provisions of the Registration Acts to register the birth.
I am informed that this information has already been conveyed by the local authority to the parents of the child and to the councillor who raised the matter at the recent meeting of the Mayo County Council.