Vol. 565 No. 4
147 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Health and Children, regarding commitments under the UN Charter on the Rights of the Child and specifically the right of the child to know both their parents, if he has any plans to introduce legislation or regulations requiring the recording of fathers' names on birth certificates. [11293/03]
The Births and Deaths Registration Acts 1863 to 1996 include provisions for the entry of paternity details in the register of births in respect of children born to parents not married to each other. The Status of Children Act 1987 amended section 7 of the Births and Deaths Registration Act (Ireland) 1880 by the substitution of sections 7 and 7A. These sections set out the procedures allowing for the registration of paternity details in such cases and included a provision for the registration of the father's details in the register of births on the joint application for registration by the parents or on the application by one or other parent with the co-operation of the other parent. They also provided for the registration of paternity details on the sole application of either the father or the mother of the child on the production of a certified copy of a court order naming the father of the child.
