Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 13 May 1992

Vol. 419 No. 6

Written Answers. - Birth Registration.

Séamus Pattison

Question:

81 Mr. Pattison asked the Minister for Health if he will outline the specific plans, if any, his Department have for providing birth certificates for children who are stillborn or who die in the first few days of life; and if he will publish a timetable for the implementation of these reforms.

Dick Spring

Question:

198 Mr. Spring asked the Minister for Health if he will outline any specific plans he has for providing birth certificates for children who are stillborn or who are victims of neonatal death; and if he will provide a timetable for the implementation of these reforms.

Minister for Health (Dr. O'Connell)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 81 and 198 together.

In the case of neonatal deaths, that is, deaths of live born infants aged under four weeks, both the birth and the death of the infant are registered and birth certificates and death certificates can be obtained as required.

Unfortunately, the registration of stillbirths was not provided for in the original registration law which we have inherited from the last century, and it will require a change in primary legislation to achieve this. However my Department have just begun a comprehensive review of the entire code of registration legislation covering births, deaths and marriages. The object of the review, which is a major task of considerable complexity, will be to determine how registration procedures and structures devised in Victorian times can be modified to suit modern conditions and needs. I will ensure that the question of the registration of stillbirths is given humane consideration within the context of the review.

While the review will be progressed as speedily as resources permit it is not possible at this point to say when it will be completed.