Garret Ahearn (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State and his officials to the Chamber. I thank the Minister of State for the work that he and the Department have done on this Bill. I am covering for Senator Paddy Burke, who could not be here. The Bill will have the support of the Fine Gael Party. As the Minister of State said towards the end of his speech, the Bill is essentially just to modernise the system. As someone who had two boys during the Covid pandemic, I understand the difficulty that was posed for parents who had to register births during that period. This could arise again. By making these changes, things will be made much easier for parents who have a birth to register.

As Senator Ardagh touched upon, we are making it a little easier for people who are going through a very difficult time owing to a death or stillbirth to make a registration without any complication or delay. That is important for people going through a very difficult period. As Senator Ardagh said regarding stillbirths, this has been called for by several people in this Chamber and it is very welcome. It is challenging enough for people at a difficult time without having to go through other difficulties in registering something really important to them.

We will have more time to discuss this further on Committee Stage, when there will be amendments, and during Report and Final Stages. There are many changes in the Bill but they are all for the good and to modernise the system.