Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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77. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will support the case of a person (details supplied) regarding the recognition of a death of an unborn child. [52133/13]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The loss of a child in any circumstances is an extremely tragic event for a family and I would like to extend my deepest sympathies to those families who have lost children.

The procedures governing the registration of deaths are provided for under Part 5 of the Civil Registration Act, 2004. When a death occurs, it is registered on foot of a certificate of cause of death supplied by a registered medical practitioner. Where a death is referred to a coroner, the death is registered by a registrar on foot of a coroner’s certificate. These are the only circumstances under which a death can be registered.

Section 28 of the Civil Registration Act, 2004 provides for the registration of stillbirths. A still-born child is defined under the Act as “a child who, at birth, weighs not less than 500 grammes or has a gestational age of not less than 24 weeks and shows no sign of life and ‘stillbirth’ shall be construed accordingly”.

Section 28 (7) of the Act provides that, if a coroner ascertains that a body is that of a stillborn child, he or she shall notify a registrar in the functional area of the authority in which the body is located of the stillbirth and shall give to the registrar, in as far as he or she can ascertain them, the required particulars in relation to the stillbirth, and the registrar shall register the stillbirth in such manner as an tArd-Chlaraitheoir may direct.

I am aware that the circumstances in the case raised by the Deputy are very sad for the family. Unfortunately it is necessary that a registration of death, including a still birth, requires a certificate of cause of death by a registered medical practitioner or a coroners certificate.