Gay Mitchell
Question:134 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will ensure that a death certificate will issue without further delay to a person (details supplied) in Dublin 12. [9301/00]
Written Answers. - Death Certificates.
The administration of the registration system is statutorily a matter for An tÁrd-Chláraitheoir Registrar-General of Births, Deaths and Marriages and for the superintendent registrars and registrars who operate under his general direction.
An tArd-Chláraitheoir has made inquiries with the appropriate registrar and I understand that the death to which the Deputy refers has not yet been registered. The Births and Deaths Registration Act (Ireland), 1880 provides that the information required to be registered be given to the registrar within five days and imposes a duty on a qualified informant to give this information to the registrar and sign the register. A qualified informant includes the nearest relative present at the death or having knowledge of the death and the occupier of the house in which the death took place. Having regard to the circumstances outlined by the Deputy, the registrar has requisitioned the occupier of the nursing home to give to the registrar information of the particulars required to be registered and to sign the register.
When the death has been registered, the registrar will be in a position to issue a death certificate.