Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 3 Jun 1998

Vol. 491 No. 6

Written Answers. - Registration of Births.

John Perry

Question:

168 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason it is necessary to state that a birth certificate is a certified copy of entry in the adoptive children's register, in view of the fact that this statement is unnecessary and causes discrimination and unnecessary classification in certain circumstances; if he will consider the removal of this statement now that there is freedom of information and as there are other means of finding this detail without making it obvious and difficult for the individuals and adoptive families; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12627/98]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Cowen)

The administration of the registration system for births, deaths and marriages is a matter for An t-Árd-Chláraitheoir (Registrar-General) of Births, Deaths and Marriages and for local registrars who operate under his general direction.

Section 22 of the Adoption Act, 1952 (No. 25 of 1952) provided for the setting up of a birth register for adopted children, to be maintained by the tÁrd-Chláraitheoir (Registrar-General). The Act provided that the register would be called the Adopted Children Register. The items to be entered in that register are set out in the Second Schedule to the Act of 1952. A full certificate must be a true copy of the entry in the register.

A short birth certificate may be issued showing name, date of birth, district of registration and the number of the entry in the register in respect of an entry in the Register of Births or an entry in the Adopted Children Register.