Maurice Quinlivan (Limerick City, Sinn Fein)
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1768. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) was unable to obtain a death certificate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36990/17]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The registration of deaths is provided for in Part 5 of the Civil Registration Act 2004. Specifically, section 37 of the Act provides that when a death occurs in the State it is the duty of a relative of the deceased, who has knowledge of the required particulars in relation to the death, to provide these particulars, within three months of the death, to any registrar. The required particulars are set out in Part 5 of the First Schedule to the Act.

If no such relative can be found, or is incapable through ill health of complying with this obligation, the death may be registered by a qualified informant within the three month period. The definition of a qualified informant is set out in section 37(5) of the Act.

If, in the case referred to by the deputy, there exists a relative of the deceased with knowledge of the required particulars, then that relative is obliged, under the legislation, to register the death. If no such relative can be found, the partner of the deceased may register the death as a qualified informant.

New provisions governing the registration of deaths, which would allow, for example, a cohabitant to register the death of their partner, will be commenced later this year.