Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 23 Oct 2001

Vol. 542 No. 5

Written Answers. - General Register Office.

Bernard Allen

Question:

326 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason a person (details supplied) in County Cork cannot obtain a long version of his birth certificate; the reason he was informed that it would take 20 weeks to supply the birth certificate; if he will investigate the situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25217/01]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin)

The administration of the registration system is a matter for An tÁrd Chláraitheoir – Registrar General – of Births and Deaths and for local registrars who operate under his general direction. The primary responsibility for the registration of births rests with the parents of the child. However, where a birth has not been registered, the Births and Deaths Registration Acts, 1863 to 1996, provide for the late registration of the birth under the authority of An tÁrd Chláraitheoir.

The birth referred to by the Deputy has now been registered and a certified copy of the entry has been issued. An application was received for the late registration of the birth referred to by the Deputy on 7 September 2001. The brother of the person concerned, being a qualified informant in relation to the birth in question, has made the required statutory declaration and would also be required to attend at the office of the registrar to sign the entry. I understand that the person whose birth was to be registered rang the General Register Office on 3 October and it was explained that the necessary authority was ready to issue.

However, I understand that the question of the availability of his brother to sign the entry in the register arose and he was told that in such circumstances he could apply in writing for the authority of An tÁrd Chláraitheoir for the registration to be effected under the provisions of section 3 of the Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Act, 1972. This would allow the registration of the birth to be completed without the attendance of the informant at the office of the registrar to sign the register. I understand that when no further correspondence was received by An tÁrd Chláraitheoir his authority issued on 8 October and the birth was duly registered on the signature of the register by the qualified informant. A copy of the entry was issued to the informant.