Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 November 2018
1048. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a change can be made to the surname given to a child on their birth certificate when it was registered in error and in the absence of the child's mother (details supplied). [44913/18]
View answerRegistration of births in Ireland is provided for in Part 3 of the Civil Registration Act 2004. Once a registration has been completed it is not possible, other than in circumstances provided for in legislation, to change the details (including the surname) entered in the register of births.
One of the circumstances where a surname may be changed is when the birth of the child is re-registered, under section 23, to include the name of the father of the child where:
a. the mother and father were not married at the time of the birth, and
b. the father’s name was not included in the original registration.
A surname may also be amended, under section 63, to correct a clerical error or an error of fact. The details provided by the Deputy do not meet the criteria for a correction under this section.
While the surname in the register of births will remain unchanged, it is possible for a person to change their name by deed poll or to change it through common usage. Procedures for changing a person’s name may be found on the website of the Courts Service: http://courts.ie/Courts.ie/Library3.nsf/pagecurrent/075D7770C94358068025804B005C294B?opendocument&l=en
It is not possible to change details in the register of births on foot of a deed poll.
