Joe O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I thank all Senators who contributed to the discussion. I very much appreciate their support across the board for progressing the measures contained in the Bill. These measures, combined with the technical changes to the civil registration computer system, will have a positive impact on how the State’s civil registration service operates and interacts with our citizens.

I want to give an initial response to the points made by Senator Wall. The answer is “Yes” in terms of efficiency. Certainly, the registration process can be faster if it is done online and the interim death certificate process will allow the other processes that follow the death of a family member to carry on. While we can always improve interdepartmental and inter-agency co-operation, this is a good springboard to work from.

I acknowledge the points made by Senator Warfield. It is important to note that maternity leave continues after a stillbirth and that the maternity leave entitlement holds. I acknowledge the Senator’s other points with regard to the benefit.

I acknowledge those initial contributions. I reiterate that the introduction of online registration of births, deaths and stillbirths will provide a more streamlined and modern civil registration service for the Irish public. The maintenance of the in-person nationwide service provided by the HSE also allows a greater level of flexibility and robustness to parents and bereaved families, and ensures that all users of the registration service are catered for. The proposal to automatically notify all deaths to the State will, for the first time, provide a timely and accurate flow of data, which will be beneficial to State bodies and organisations and allow real-time mortality data to feed into future planning models.

Although the amendments in this Bill are mainly technical, there are provisions that have significance for those who have suffered the sad loss of a stillborn child. The Bill will introduce lower criteria for assigning stillborn status, as well as a new arrangement for multiple stillbirths. In addition, there will be a more accessible register of stillbirths and an open record of stillbirths.

I again thank Senators for their co-operation and look forward to further debate on the remaining Seanad Stages.