Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael)
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Question 475: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if it is accurate to say that in order to be eligible for a birth certificate, a child must either be born after 24 weeks gestation, be alive at birth, or weigh more than 500 grams and if the policy can be reviewed in view of the trauma it could potentially cause for already deeply upset parents; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17939/12]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Under the provisions of section 19 of the Civil Registration Act, 2004, all live births fall to be registered.

Where a child is stillborn, and weighs not less than500 grammes, or has a gestational age of not less than 24 weeks and shows no sign of life, the parents may, within 12 months of the stillbirth, arrange to have the required particulars entered in the register of stillbirths.

I understand that the designation of a stillbirth, as outlined above, is the generally accepted medical definition.