Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)

Tá sé luaite agam go leor leor amanna go bhfuil rogha ag daoine ainm as Gaeilge nó as Béarla a úsáid. Ag éirí as an díospóireacht a bhí againn ar Chéim an Choiste, labhair mé leis an tseirbhís phoiblí agus fuair mé eolas ó thíortha eile aga bhfuil teangacha oifigiúla cosúil linn. Níl deacracht dlíthiúil ann faoi ainm a shíniú as Gaeilge nó as Béarla nó as teanga ar bith eile, ach níl muid ag caint faoi ainm a shínítear. Chuaigh mé ar lorg eolais mar gheall ar an díospóireacht le tacaíocht a thabhairt ar an argóint atá agam.

I made inquiries regarding the position in Wales, Canada and Belgium and, for example, in Wales people have the choice of entering their names in the register of births in English or Welsh, but not in both languages, similar to our provision. Canada and Belgium both have two official languages, but only one version of a person's name may be used for official purposes. In Singapore there are four languages but the prescribed language for official purposes is English. Scotland does not allow the use of the name in two languages even though imo thuairimse tá cosúlacht mór idir na tíortha Ceilteacha a luaigh mé agus sinn agus tá an rogha céanna acu.

With regard to the public service, Deputy Crowe alluded to the issue raised on Committee Stage. A most important matter is that an identity is specified as "a set of attributes which, linked together, uniquely identifies a natural person." The key here is the unique and single fact of an identity which is fundamental to its usefulness. The proposal to facilitate both versions of a person's name would completely dilute and undermine this concept for a number of reasons. First, it would be a fundamental culture change and would lead to dual or duplicate identities. It could create confusion as to the real identity of an individual. It could also give rise to equality issues in a multicultural society, provide an opportunity for identity theft, create a risk of fraud, have a knock-on effect regarding service provision, identity control etc. and would be impossible to manage in a multicultural context. It could not be supported without significant changes to my Department's systems which set up and maintain a person's public service identity using the PPS number. If Deputy Ring were here he would be jumping up and down reminding me about all the money I have spent on the PPS system. I am damn sure he would not allow me to spend another red cent in changing it again.

In the context of identification, it is not that anyone on this side of the House is against the use of the Irish language. People have the choice. I am sure everyone would be delighted if people took the choice to register their children's names in Gaelic. That would be progressive from their perspective. If we want to give aitheantas don teanga oifigiúil, b'fhéidir gurbh é sin an rud ceart a dhéanamh.

Deputy Boyle raised the issue of names of other nationalities. These are facilitated. For example, Arabic people have four names and they are all facilitated. It does not matter what culture one comes from, whatever is one's traditional modus operandi in terms of writing one's name, registering and providing one identity, that is facilitated by An tArd-Chláraitheoir.

Amendment No. 31 relates to an important section which allows for the forename of a child to be changed once. This facility is designed to allow a parent or guardian of a child a once-off opportunity to amend or complete a birth registration where no forename had been previously registered. I refer, for example, to instances where a name which is not the original registered is in common usage. Parents or guardians will be required to supply sufficient evidence to satisfy a registrar of births that the change to the forename is necessary. To accept the amendment put forward would result in the possibility of multiple changes of forenames with resulting degradation of the birth record. I am, therefore, not in a position to accept it.

I accept the views of my learned colleague from the Labour Party with regard to amendment No. 32. Fan go bhfeicfimid nuair a bheidh sé críochnaithe sna cúirteanna.

See this speech in context