Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for choosing this issue which is important to me and some of my constituency people. I thank the Minister for being present to respond to it. I wish to discuss the registration of the deaths of Irish citizens abroad or, to be more precise, the lack of registration. The Minister will be aware that the Civil Registration Act 2004 covers the registration of births, stillbirths and deaths. Under current legislation, the death of an Irish citizen abroad is only recorded and registered where it falls into one of three categories: first, the person dies in an aircraft or on an Irish ship abroad; second, the person dies in a foreign aircraft or on a foreign ship; and third, the person is a serving member, or the spouse of a serving member residing outside the State alongside his or her partner, of An Garda Síochána or the Defence Forces. In effect, this means the vast majority of deaths of Irish citizens abroad are never recorded or registered in Ireland.

The absence of registration in Ireland of a death abroad makes life considerably more difficult for the family members left behind. As many Members are aware from personal experience, a death certificate is usually needed to finalise affairs, including the closure of bank accounts, the cancellation of a passport and other issues that must be dealt with on a regular basis. The name of the deceased appears in certain documentation and the production of a death certificate can result in finalisation, something people are keen to attain.

There is a genealogical aspect to this matter also. The official annual death figures are not fully accurate since they do not account for hundreds of deaths of Irish citizens outside the State each year. Future generations will find it extremely difficult to trace their ancestors if one of them died overseas. That is the hard reality. I have no doubt the Minister will agree these people are not just statistics. They deserve the right to be recognised in their own country, even after death.

I know from experience the pain this has caused families and friends who have lost loved ones overseas. There are two exceptionally sad cases in my constituency. Mary Britton, who lost her husband, has been campaigning on this issue here in Leinster House and with previous Governments, and continues to fight her case in an understanding and caring way. Similarly, Dolores Millea, whose son died in Germany in 2007, believes resolving this issue could prevent future families suffering some of the distress with which those two families have had to deal.

This proposal would be a normal way to help those who have suffered so much. It would be a caring act we could do for those people, including the two examples I have given of the people in my constituency. It is an issue we should try to resolve and if the Minister cannot give me a full answer today, she might indicate a timeframe of what will be done to end this difficult situation.

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