Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I think we have covered this issue. It is important to point out that under this Bill, registration of the mothers and the father on a birth certificate will be obligatory. That is an important move. A similar measure has been in place in other countries for some time. As a result of this, more fathers will be involved in the birth registration process. Also, as the registrar will under this Bill have a role in the statutory declaration, more fathers will be involved in the making of those statutory declarations. With the statutory declaration comes all of the rights of guardianship. It is now easier to access information in that regard. As I said, the Department of Social Protection will develop the information needed in this regard. We want to ensure mothers and fathers are given every possible opportunity to be involved in the parenting of their children. The purpose of this Bill is to outline as clearly as possible the rights and responsibilities of those who are parenting a child day to day, while at the same time, as set out in the legislation, acknowledging the biological links in the case of AHR and DAHR.

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