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Birth Certificates

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 June 2018

Tuesday, 12 June 2018

Questions (1201)

Mattie McGrath

Question:

1201. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if it is possible for a birth certificate to record two persons of the same sex or gender as the parents of a child produced using donor assisted human reproduction techniques in circumstances in which the gamete donation is from a third party; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25187/18]

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Written answers

The current legislation governing registration of births provides only for the registration of a mother’s details and a father’s details. It is not possible, at present, to register the details of a birth using the term “parent”. This is provided for in section 99 of the Children and Family Relationships Act 2015, which is yet to be commenced.

In the meantime, births should continue to be registered under the current procedures and then re-registered (to have the second parent registered as “parent”) once the amending legislation has come into effect. The relevant provisions for re-registration are contained in section 95 of the Children and Family Relationships Act 2015, which amends civil registration legislation relating to registration of births, and which also is yet to be commenced.

A number of amendments to civil registration legislation, including those referred to above, remain to be commenced pending the roll-out of training to staff of the Civil Registration Service who are employees of the HSE. The General Register Office is in a position to begin provision of training as soon as the HSE notifies it of the dates and venues.

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