Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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214. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when the civil registration Bill will be introduced. [7241/19]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The Government approved the publication of the Civil Registration Bill 2019 at its meeting on 12th January. The Bill will resolve a number of difficulties in the registration of donor-assisted births and will be brought forward as a priority.

This Bill will extend the required particulars for registration of a birth to include “Parent” on a birth certificate. At present birth certificates issued in respect of donor-assisted children born to same sex couples only allow for the recording of the mother’s details. These changes will facilitate the registration and re-registration of births of children of same sex female couples.

In addition to the current labels of “Mother” and “Father” on birth certificates, parents of non-donor assisted children may also avail of the label “Parent” should they so request it.

The Bill will also include provisions for:

- a role for a next-of-kin in providing a Coroner with additional details in relation to a deceased person’s particulars;

- sharing of General Register Office data and records with a body such as the National Library or National Archives; and

- collection of additional details in respect of deceased persons in order that the CSO can comply with obligations under EU Regulations.

It is expected that the Bill will be presented to the Houses of the Oireachtas later this week.