Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 416: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the mechanism that is available to a person (details supplied) to have their child's surname registered after they are married; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4582/10]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The registration of births, including the assignment of surnames in birth entries, is governed by the provisions contained in the Civil Registration Act, 2004. Section 24 of the Act provides for the re-registration of a birth which has already been registered in circumstances where the parents inter-married subsequent to the birth of the child and it also stipulates that it is the duty of such parents to furnish to a registrar the necessary information with a view to obtaining the re-registration of the birth of that child.

Section 24 also deals with the matter of the surname of the child and it includes a provision which entitles parents to change the surname already assigned to the child in the birth entry where there is agreement between the parents. It is suggested that the parents in this case should contact the registration office where the original registration was carried out and the registrar will advise them as to what documents and information will be required for having the birth re-registered.