Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)

In modernising the facility we have also extended the opening hours, thus appreciating that some may not be able to register their children during work hours. Linked to this is the fact that, in the larger maternity hospitals, we can now facilitate the registration of a birth before the mother goes home through the Department of Health and Children. This is also very important. Every effort is being made to ensure we provide a service to the customer but we all agree that registration of a child is one of the most fundamental things a parent should do. The failure to register a child would have serious consequences because one's registration details are used for absolutely everything. I am sure some Members still deal with cases in which births were never registered, thus resulting in considerable hassle over inheritance, land, etc. Therefore, registration is the most important duty of parents, apart from caring for the child. I believe we have facilitated many of the concerns of modern life.