John Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
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147. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will consider implementing a registration system for unborn children who die from unnatural causes, including accidents; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41793/15]

Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The procedures governing the registration of deaths are provided for under Part 5 of the Civil Registration Act, 2004.

The only circumstances under which a death can be registered by the registrar in the register of deaths are -

- Under Section 41 of the Act of 2004, a death is registered on foot of a certificate provided by a coroner containing the required particulars of the death concerned.

- Under Section 42, a death is registered on foot of a certificate of cause of death provided by a registered medical practitioner who attended the deceased.

There are procedures in place to provide for the registration of stillbirths under Section 28 of the Act of 2004.

Under section 2 of the Act of 2004, a stillborn child means 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.

It is not proposed to change these legislative provisions.