Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 131: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the procedure for a mother wishing to remove the name of a person from their child's birth certificate, with this person's consent; and to put the true father's name on it; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5875/05]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The Births and Deaths Registration Acts 1863 to 1996 include a provision for the correction of an error of fact or substance in a register of births, which allows for a correction on foot of a statutory declaration setting out the errors in the entry in question. These provisions may be used to remove erroneous details from a birth entry. The Acts also include provisions for the entry of paternity details in the register of births in respect of children born to parents who are not married to each other.

The Status of Children Act 1987 amended section 7 of the Births and Deaths Registration Act (Ireland) 1880 by the substitution of sections 7 and 7A. Section 7A sets out the procedures for the re-registration of a birth to include paternity details where the birth was initially registered without such details being included. As it would appear from the information furnished that a man has been named in the entry in the register of births, the provisions of section 7A may not be availed of in the case referred to by the Deputy.

However, if the Deputy were to furnish details to an tArd-Chláraitheoir, including details of the putative father, he could investigate to see what measures, if any, can be taken to resolve the matter, either under current legislation or the provisions of the relevant parts of the Civil Registration Act 2004, which are due to be commenced in the near future.