Paul McGrath (Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 168: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the reason the marriage certificate in the case of an Irish couple, married in Rome, will not be accepted for registration of the birth of their child; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7126/07]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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An tArd-Chláraitheoir (Registrar General) is the person with statutory responsibility for the administration of the Civil Registration Service. I have made enquiries with an tArd Chláraitheoir and the position is as set out below.

The provisions governing the registration of births are set out in Part 3 of the Civil Registration Act, 2004. These provisions were commenced with effect from 5 December 2005. Section 19 of the Act includes provision for the registration of marital births. Section 22 provides for the registration of a father's details where the parents are not married to each other. The registrar is obliged to satisfy himself/herself as to the marital status of persons who seek to have their names entered on the register of births as parents of a particular child in order to determine under which section of the act the birth may be registered.

In the case of a parent who presents to register the birth of a child and who informs the registrar that his/her marriage took place in Ireland, the registrar verifies this by checking the marriage records on the Civil Registration System. However if the marriage has taken place outside of Ireland, the registrar must be satisfied that the marriage was civilly registered in the country in which it took place and must request a certificate to this effect. If this marriage certificate is in a language which is not understood by the registrar, he/she is entitled to seek a certified translation.