The procedures for registering births in the State are contained in the Civil Registration Act 2004. Under that Act, there is no provision to provide for the amendment of an existing birth entry, or for the creation of a new birth entry to reflect the acquired gender of persons who wish to have their new gender recognised in the State. The provision of births certificates to transgendered persons reflecting their acquired gender will have to be catered for in legislation.
The matter was the subject of consideration by the Gender Recognition Advisory Group which was established to advise on the legislation required to provide for legal recognition of the acquire gender of transsexual or transgendered persons. The report of the Group, which I received on 15 June 2011, was submitted to the Government this week and is being published today. I cannot be definitive at this stage about when I will be in a position to introduce legislation to give legal recognition to transgendered persons, but I would hope to do so later in the year.