Michael Ring
Question:192 Mr. Ring asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the way in which parents can amend a child’s surname following their recent marriage. [31065/04]
View answerTuesday, 30 November 2004
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Written answers
The administration of the system for the registration of births 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 Births and Deaths Registration Acts 1863 to 1996 provide for the registration of a child's surname in the Register of Births.
Section 1(4) of the Legitimacy Act 1931, and the Schedule to the Act, imposes a duty on parents of a child, legitimated by the inter-marriage of the parents, to provide an tArd Chláraitheior with the information necessary for the re-registration of the birth. However, section 1(6) of the Registration of Births Act 1996 provides that where an entry in the register of births contains the name of the father of the child, the provisions for the re-registration of a birth under section 1(4) of the Legitimacy Act 1931 do not apply. I anticipate that the provisions of the Civil Registration Act 2004, which relate to the registration and the re-registration of births will be commenced early in 2005. The commencement of these provisions will facilitate a further re-registration of the birth to which the Deputy referred.