Nicky McFadden (Fine Gael)

I move amendment No. 10:

In page 6, before section 3, but in Part 2, to insert the following new section:

3.--The Minister shall, within 2 months of the enactment of this Act, report to the Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection on the progress made in establishing a register of Irish citizens that have died abroad.

The Minister is acutely aware of this situation. Some months ago, family members of citizens who died abroad made a strong and reasonable case for the registration in Ireland of their loved ones' deaths. That both families needed to travel to America to organise the documentation and so on was heartbreaking. The young men in question died in their prime. As a nation, it was unpatriotic of us to refuse to allow their families to register their deaths. The committee discussed the possibility of our Embassy in America registering their deaths. Senator Healy Eames, who has been vocal on this issue, attended that meeting. She highlighted a situation regarding the passport of a deceased person. There is potential for such passports to be abused.

Consider the heartache. Those families are in limbo and the situation is uncertain. The Minister should reconsider his position. He is far-thinking and connected with the people. He has the ability to look on my amendment favourably.