Vol. 572 No. 2
9 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Health and Children the investigation his Department has held into claims that the deaths of women when residents of the Magdalene laundry in High Park, Drumcondra, Dublin, may not have been registered as required by law; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22535/03]
The administration of the registration system, including the registration of deaths, is a matter for an tArd-Chláraitheoir, the Registrar General of Births, Deaths and Marriages, and for local registrars who operate under his general direction.
The details to be registered in relation to a death are set out in section 30 of the Births and Deaths Registration (Ireland) Act of 1863 and the Schedule to that Act. These include date and place of death, name and age of the deceased, occupation and cause of death. Certified copies of entries in the register of deaths include all details contained in the relevant entry in the register of deaths.
I understand that applications were made to the General Register Office in 1993 for death certificates relating to persons interred in the graveyard in High Park. With the information supplied, the General Register Office was able to issue 75 death certificates. The office issued "no trace" forms for a number of others where it was unable to trace a death entry in the records with the information available to it. The office was unable to conduct a search of the records in some cases in respect of which insufficient details were supplied. The deaths may be registered, but the details upon which the searches were based were insufficient or may have been incorrect.
It is important that the name and the date of death are accurately provided. The normal procedure in cases where records cannot be found based on the information supplied is that the applicant is so informed and invited to provide further information which may enable the entry to be located. In addition, there is a provision under section 15 of the Births and Deaths Registration Act (Ireland) 1880 for late registration of deaths with the authority of an tArd Chláraitheoir. It is understood from recent press reports that the religious order concerned has stated that it complied with regulations in relation to the registration of deaths of persons in their care.
I am conscious of the tragedy of the women who worked in the Magdalene laundries and who were treated with scant regard and respect while they were alive. It appears that they are being treated with the same lack of regard and respect after they have died.
Is the Minister not disturbed that when a religious order was requested to exhume the bodies of 133 women, 22 additional bodies were discovered? The deaths of only 75 of the women had been properly registered. Does the Minister accept that it is illegal to fail to register the death of a person and that people should be held responsible to ensure that registration is carried out in all cases? Simply accepting the word of a religious order in this day and age is not terribly satisfactory considering the circumstances. Does the Minister intend to progress this issue to give these women in death the respect to which they are entitled but did not receive in life?
I do not say that I accept the word of anybody in terms of the order. I simply recorded that the order said it was compliant. I am not in a position to say whether or not I accept that as the information is not readily available to me. Of course, I share the Deputy's concern regarding what has been revealed in relation to this tragedy. I can discuss with the Deputy the way forward in terms of the legal redress I or particular offices of the State may have in pursuing this matter. Different Ministers and Departments have responsibilities under the legislation which governs this area.
I would appreciate any follow up on this. It is an important point, particularly in view of the fact that so much effort has gone into redressing the wrongs of the past. In this case, registration of deaths at least to acknowledge the existence of these women is of fundamental importance.
I share the Deputy's views.
