Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 April 2012
481 Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the fact that a person can obtain a copy of a birth certificate without producing any evidence of identity; her plans to insist that evidence be presented before individual birth certificate copies are handed out. [18873/12]
View answerSection 61 of the Civil Registration Act, 2004 governs access to civil registration records, including birth certificates. It provides that following an application in writing by a person and on payment of the prescribed fee a Superintendent Registrar, a registrar, an authorised officer or the Registrar General shall give the person a certified copy of the entry in the register. Certificates may be ordered in person, by post, by fax, or online.
In all cases, the applicant must provide their name and address, as well as the details of the person to whom the record relates. Payment must be by cash, cheque, debit card or credit card. The vast majority of payments are by credit/debit card and credit/debit card payments are only accepted where the name on the credit/debit card and the name of the applicant are the same. In addition, the vast majority of applications are by post, by fax or online, and the applicant in all cases must provide a delivery address.
The computerisation of the registration system has enabled extensive electronic exchange of civil registration data with other public bodies. This has greatly reduced the need for members of the public to obtain physical copies of certificates.
I would also point out that while birth certificates are frequently used for access to public and other services, a birth certificate is not an identity document. If a birth certificate is presented to a public body, it is the responsibility of that body to satisfy itself as to the identity of the person who presents the document. If the body in question has concerns that there is anything untoward, that body should report the matter to an Garda Síochána. To alter a certificate or use an altered certificate is a serious offence.
The paper on which certificates are issued has a significant number of advanced security features, and it is extremely difficult to forge a certificate.
In light of the above, there are no plans to insist that evidence of identity be produced when applying for a birth certificate. As there is no statutory system of identity documentation in the State, the requirement to produce evidence of identity could result in persons who have no identity documents being denied access even to their own certificates.
