Patrick McCartan
Ceist:200 Mr. McCartan asked the Minister for Health if he will outline the position regarding the putting in place of a national register of stillbirths and sudden deaths in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Stillbirth Neonatal Death Statistics.
Enda Kenny
Ceist:202 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Health if he has received representations from the Irish Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Society concerning the need for a register of stillbirth babies; if he considers that such a register should be drawn up; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to answer Questions Nos. 200 and 202 together.
I have received representations on behalf of the Irish Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Society concerning the need for a stillbirth register. Under existing legislation the registration of births by the Registrar General is confined to live births only. I have asked my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Noel Treacy to conduct a review of the legislation governing births, deaths and marriages. The question of the registration of stillbirths will be considered as part of this extensive review. The establishment of a stillbirth register is a development I would support, particularly in terms of the solace it may provide to grieving parents. The manner of its implementation and the amending legislation which may be required will require careful consideration. In the meantime, I have asked my Department to examine whether it would be possible to devise some interim arrangement which would be of assistance to parents until the necessary legislative changes have been made.