Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 2 November 2021
622. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Social Protection the steps she is taking to amend the legislation concerning the stillbirth register to enable bereaved parents whose deceased child or children that are currently listed on the stillbirth register to be given the opportunity to have their child or children placed on the birth and death register instead and to receive a birth and death certificate for their children. [53371/21]
View answerThe Deputy will, I expect, share my concerns about the sensitivities of introducing legislative change in relation to stillbirth registration. The death of a baby before birth is a terrible loss to the parents and may not necessarily be a bereavement that they would wish to share with other people. In legislating in this area, I am conscious of the need to represent the broadest set of views.
Registration of stillbirths in this country largely reflects international practice, with the exception that registration is voluntary and is not published in a public register. At this stage, I would be reluctant to depart from the broad framework for registration that has been established or to depart from international practice.
I know and appreciate that some parents would like to see a change in the law, but I am not convinced that the change you are proposing in the question would serve the needs of parents more generally. The Deputy may wish to note that of the stillbirths that occur annually, fewer than half of these are registered. I would not wish to remove this element of choice from parents.
As I have already informed the Deputy, the General Register Office (GRO) is currently examining how the legislation for registering stillbirths could be updated. Any proposals that emerge from this examination will be subject to consultation with a range of advocacy groups and others with an interest in these matters. The GRO has indicated that it would like to see consultations commenced before the end of the year with a view to making proposals for Government to consider what appropriate legislative provision might be made.
I hope the Deputy will engage in this consultation process when it is launched.
