Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 March 2004
353 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Health and Children the legislation which exists for the issuing of birth certificates for births registered on or after 8 September 2003 in pursuance of section 2 of part 5 of the Schedule to the Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2002, which registration omits the date of birth of each parent. [8491/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraCertified copies of entries in the register of births are issued in accordance with the provisions of the Births and Deaths Registration Acts 1863 to 1996, as amended.
The roll out of the new civil registration computer system commenced in Cork on 8 September 2003 and is being implemented on progressive basis in other registration offices. The necessary amendments to the Births and Deaths Registration Acts 1863 to 1996 to facilitate on line registration of births and deaths and the electronic production of certificates were enacted via the Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2002. A separate commencement order under that Act is required for the introduction of the new electronic registration system in each district.
The commencement orders provide that the particulars set out in section 2 of part 6 of the Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2002, which include the dates of birth of the mother and the father apply to the registration of a birth from the date of the commencement order. Particulars, including dates of birth of parents, are only registered and produced on a certificate, if they have been supplied by the qualified informant. These particulars may not be available in all cases, in particular where the occupier of a hospital acts as qualified informant. This is why parents should register the birth of their child.
