Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 49: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the position regarding the implementation of the Civil Registration Act 2004, with particular reference to the creation of two non-statutory advisory committees to which a commitment was given to establish when the Act was commenced. [27463/06]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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Statutory responsibility for the administration of the Civil Registration Service in Ireland rests with an tArd-Chláraitheoir (Registrar-General). I have made inquiries of an tArd-Chláraitheoir regarding the matters raised by the Deputy and he advises as follows: The Civil Registration Service has been engaged in a major programme of modernisation in recent years, the main features of which are:

—the capture and storage in electronic format of all historical paper records from 1845 to date;

—the design, development and implementation of a new computerised registration system;

—organisational reform and

—reform of the legislation governing Civil Registration to underpin the delivery of a modernised service to meet the needs of a modern society and to facilitate the wider eGovernment agenda.

The reform of the legislation has been completed and the Civil Registration Act, 2004 now provides the statutory basis for the administration of the service. The various sections of the Act are being commenced on a phased basis and progress to date includes the commencement in December 2005 of Parts 1, 2, 3, 5 and 8 of the Act, which relate to the administration of the service and the civil registration of births, stillbirths and deaths.

Before the outstanding provisions of the Act can be commenced, a substantial body of work needs to be completed. Currently, the requirements for the commencement of the marriage provisions are being addressed. This entails a significant amount of work including drafting and publication of regulations, guidelines and detailed procedures; establishment of a register of solemnisers in consultation with religious bodies; establishment of a register of approved venues for civil marriages; and the further development of the computer system to facilitate the administration of the new marriage provisions introduced in the Act.

A dedicated research facility has been established in Dublin to cater for the needs of members of the public and genealogists wishing to carry out family research. Plans are currently being made to relocate the research room to a new purpose-built facility in Dublin city-centre and it is intended that this facility will include electronic access to records. This will greatly improve services to genealogists and other members of the public in carrying out family research. It is intended that the relevant organisations will be consulted as part of this process.

At the moment, it is vital that all available resources are devoted to working towards the commencement of the remaining provisions of the Civil Registration Act, 2004 and that the processes and procedures established by the provisions commenced in December 2005 are allowed to develop fully prior to review.

With regard to the creation of the two non-statutory advisory committees on civil registration and family research issues, the Deputy may be aware that it has been decided to transfer the functions of the General Register Office from my Department to the Department of Social and Family Affairs. Accordingly, the position in relation to the establishment of these committees will be reviewed in the context of that Department's structures and frameworks in relation to customer consultation and consultative panels.

Feedback on all aspects of the Civil Registration System is received by an tArd-Chláraitheoir both directly, as a result of the Office's constant interaction with the public through it's Public Research Facility, located at Joyce House in Dublin, and with members of the public, their legal representatives and various groups having an interest in the work of the Office, and indirectly through monthly meetings with Superintendent Registrars of Births, Deaths and Marriages, who are responsible for the direct delivery of registration services to members of the public. Generally speaking, feedback from members of the public, their legal representatives and genealogists in relation to the services provided is positive. Processes and procedures for dealing with the public are kept under review and revised as necessary within the statutory framework.

I should like to assure the Deputy that the General Register Office is fully committed, in line with the key principles of Quality Customer Service, which are enshrined in my Department's Customer Charter and in line with customer expectations, to the development and provision of an equitable, high quality, customer friendly and increasingly efficient service to those who wish to avail of its services and that staff at its Offices strive at all times to ensure that these principles are adhered to.