Richard Bruton
Ceist:792 Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the way a person can change their name on their birth certificate when their Christian name has been mistakenly entered. [11001/09]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 24 March 2009
Ceisteanna (758)
Freagraí scríofa
An tArd Chláraitheoir (Registrar General) is the person with statutory responsibility for the administration of the civil registration system in Ireland. I have made enquiries with the Registrar General and he has informed me that the position is as set out below.
The circumstances under which a forename was entered in the register of births would determine the provisions under which the entry might be altered or amended. Under the provisions of section 25 of the Civil Registration Act, 2004, the parent or parents, or the legal guardian of a child may apply to have a forename changed, altered or registered, or to have one or more forenames added. Such applications may be made to the office of any registrar of births and must be accompanied by the appropriate fee and by proof of usage in childhood of the forenames sought.
Where an error, either clerical or factual, was made in connection with the forename registered, such errors may be corrected on application to a Superintendent Registrar under the provisions of section 63 of the Act. Where it appears that the particulars relating to an entry in the register of births are incorrect or incomplete, an tArd Chláraitheoir may conduct an inquiry under section 65 of the Act and, if he is satisfied that the entry is incorrect or incomplete, he may direct that the entry shall be corrected and/or completed.
It should be noted that the provisions are not intended to cover situations where a person, in adulthood, exercises their right under the common law to change their name by usage and repute or by swearing out a deed poll. An entry in the register of births is a historical record of the facts as they pertained at the time of the birth and these records are not meant to be updated to reflect changing circumstances.