Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for her reply and her commitment that the Bill will be published by the end of April or, at the latest, the end of June. I do not doubt her bona fides in that regard. Unfortunately, this Bill has been delayed for some time. Like other Deputies, I have raised this matter on a number of occasions. I published a Private Members' Bill dealing with the issue in November 2012, although I held off introducing it when I realised that the Minister was progressing the Civil Registration (Amendment) Bill, which also encompasses a range of other issues.

The Help Bring them Home campaign in Galway, members of which made a presentation on this matter to an Oireachtas committee during the lifetime of the last Government, have expressed concern about the delay in introducing the Bill. As such, I welcome the Minister's commitment in that regard. One woman to whom I spoke, whose brother died abroad, told me that her parents would like to have a death certificate for him before they pass on, which puts this issue into context. People who do not understand the legislative process are concerned that the Bill will be forever delayed. As such, the Minister's commitment is welcome.

The gender recognition Bill is similarly delayed. I am sure the Minister also proposes to progress that Bill.

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