Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 8 Dec 1998

Vol. 498 No. 1

Written Answers. - Birth Certificates.

Seán Haughey

Ceist:

238 Mr. Haughey asked the Minister for Health and Children the way in which a fostered child who does not know who her natural parents are can get a birth certificate; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a birth certificate is required in order to get married, get a passport, get a provisional driving licence and to get a house purchase mortgage; the assistance, if any, his Department or agencies attached to his Department can give to a person faced with this dilemma; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26449/98]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Cowen)

The administration of the registration system, is statutorily a matter for An tArd-Chláraitheoir (Registrar-General) of Births, Deaths and Marriages and for Registrars who operate under his general direction. I have had inquiries made with An tArd-Chláratiheoir and he has informed me that any person is entitled to conduct a search of the indexes held by An tArd Chláraitheoir and to obtain a certified copy of any entry in the register on the payment of the appropriate fee. However a person must be in the possession of at least some information in relation to his-her birth in order to facilitate the search. In the circumstances mentioned by the Deputy the best approach may be for the person in question to approach the health board who arranged the foster-care to determine what information the board may have in relation to her birth. Armed with this information she may be in a position to conduct a successful search of the indexes of births.