Jillian van Turnhout (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Tánaiste. I also welcome Mr. Brian Sheehan from GLEN who is in the Visitors Gallery.

We received the Bill in the latter part of last week and it is exciting to see how it has been changed and cleaned up. It now addresses quite a number of human issues. On each reading of the Bill I found myself asking questions about how I would use my time today. Some questions can be dealt with in the Bill, while others may have to be dealt in other legislation. However, we need to be cognisant of them as we make changes to the Bill.

My first question relates to the proposed amendment on civil registration. I am concerned to ascertain whether a civil partnership ceremony conducted, for example, in the British Embassy in 2008 will be covered by section 21. I understand the amendment covers it.

My colleagues will not be surprised to learn that I want to raise the substantive issues of compulsory joint registration of births and the registration of the father's name. As a keen amateur genealogist, I am aware that the General Register Office comes under the auspices of the Department. I also do not want anybody to believe this is purely a maintenance issue.