Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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57. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if his Department has assessed the impact on youth poverty of the lower rates for unemployment allowance; if so, the findings of such an assessment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35711/16]

Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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I thought for a second I would have to go "Back to the Future" to get this question in. I acknowledge the Minister's swift work upon assuming office in dealing with the issue of the grossly insensitive practice of the State charging people to register stillborn children. Further to the changes already introduced, I ask if this can be extended to children who pass away shortly after birth in relation to the registration of both the birth and the death.

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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In July of this year, I introduced regulations which provided that no fee would be incurred where parents request a certificate in respect of a stillborn child. At the time, I told Deputy Griffin that I would examine the cost of certificates to parents registering the birth and death of a baby on the same day. I gave an undertaking in the House that I would at the earliest opportunity make regulations reducing the fee payable in the case of a baby's death. In the meantime, I have considered how best this can be done and have now decided that the simplest approach would be to waive the fee for certificates for the simultaneous registration of the birth and death where the baby dies within its first year of life.

I also propose to extend this to the registration of the death of a baby within that period.

The HSE has responsibility for the day-to-day running of the Civil Registration Service and any revenue raised from fees for certificates is used to fund the service. I am mindful of the impact on revenue. However, in this case the amounts involved are very small. I have consulted with my colleague, the Minister for Health, Deputy Simon Harris and I am happy to confirm he concurs with me on this matter. I can assure the Deputy that I am very conscious of the distress the death of a baby causes to a family and my intention is to alleviate any additional distress which may arise during the registration process to parents who have lost a baby. Now having agreement on this matter, I intend to introduce the necessary regulations in the coming weeks.

Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister. I very much appreciate his response and thank him for acting so swiftly. I raised this matter in the previous Dáil. Unfortunately, action was not taken. The Minister has shown that it has been possible to address this issue.

It represented a gross insensitivity on behalf of the State for people who were faced in their darkest hour with the having to pay money in addition to the misery they were going through. As the Minister said, this does not generate massive revenue for the State, but the Minister has decided to do the right thing. I again thank him for his efforts in addressing this matter. As he said, it is something that will not cause any further distress and offence to people in their time of pain.

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I thank Deputy Griffin for bringing this matter to my attention some months ago, on foot of which I abolished the fee to register a stillbirth. I will now abolish the fee to register the death of a child in the first year. I want to acknowledge in particular my colleague, the Minister for Health, Deputy Simon Harris, for being so quick to approve and agree this change.