Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I am conscious from my engagement with individuals who have been affected by illegal birth registrations that, obviously, many wish to continue to live by their current identity and that is what we have provided for under this section. The Bill provides for the new register that will reflect and give legal protection to an individual's lived identity.

Amendment No. 323 seeks to delete "an entry in the register of births relating to his or her birth was made on or before the 31st day of December 1980" from the definition of "affected person". This definition was created in careful consultation, having engaged with the groups, and understands the time period within which the St. Patrick's Guild illegal birth registrations took place. The cut-off was set at 1980 to ensure all known illegal birth registrations would be captured and would benefit from the provisions of this Bill. At the same time, the cut-off point in respect of legal advice was that the definition should not be open-ended such that it would encompass children and young people under the age of 24 years.