asked the Minister for Health if he will now take steps to rationalise the system of registering births and deaths in Dublin to obviate the need for a relation of the person in respect of whom a registration is made to attend in person at the local medical dispensary.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Registration of Births and Deaths.
27.
The reference to the need for a relation of the person in respect of whom a registration is made to attend in person at the local medical dispensary is misleading. For instance, the majority of births occurring in Dublin take place in the major maternity hospitals and these hospitals register the births occurring in them, unless the parents opt otherwise. Similarly, deaths occurring in hospitals are normally registered by the hospital authority.
The whole procedure for the registration of births and deaths is under examination in connection with a review of the entire legislative code governing such registrations. I am unable to say at this stage when the examination will be completed.
Is the Minister aware that the relations of a decaased person and the parents of a newly-born child who is born elsewhere than in a hospital are required to attend a dispensary, which may involve waiting for two or three hours while people receive medical attention for a variety of ailments before they can hand in a form to the medical officer who will in most cases receive the form without knowing the identity of the person handing it to him? As this is a matter in need of urgent reform, surely a simple legislative amendment could be introduced?
What the Deputy suggests does not apply to 75 per cent of the births occurring in Dublin because they occur in hospitals.
Why should 25 per cent of such people have to suffer inconvenience under this archaic system?
This review of legislation will be forthcoming and I am sure the Minister for Health will expedite it in his usual fashion.
In the year 2010.