Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 13 October 2021
146. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Social Protection the timeline for the completion of a research project undertaken by the civil registration unit on the process of registration for babies born outside of the criteria for still birth and related matters; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49974/21]
View answerThe research project mentioned by the Deputy seeks to gain international experience for the criteria used for the registration of still births outside of the clinical/medical setting. Enquiries were made with several countries on what processes they have in place to define, classify, and register still births and pregnancies that are not currently defined as still births in Irish law.
Responses are currently being examined and I expect that this work will be completed by the end of November. Once this phase of work is completed, my Department plans to engage with interested parties and domestic advocacy groups in developing a set of policy options to inform what, if any, changes should be made to the current registration framework.
Separately, my Department has received the proposals from the Department of Health and the HSE seeking to change the current criteria for registration of a still birth to bring it into line with changes in clinical management of preterm infants.
I welcome the Deputy's interest in this sensitive matter for families and trust that I have set out how my Department plans to proceed over the coming months.
