Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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252. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will outline any changes to the registration of new births; if parents are now required to present themselves at an office, given that previously the entire process was completed by the hospital and her Department without needing a parent to show up in an office; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62917/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Part 3 of the Civil Registration Act 2004, as amended, sets out the requirements for the registration of births. Section 19 of the Act sets out the duties on parents (or others in the absence of the parents) to register a birth. The requirements are that parents, within three months of the date of birth, attend before a registrar to provide the required particulars of the birth and to sign the register in the presence of a registrar. These provisions are similar to those in place under the legislation first introduced in the 19th Century. Other than the temporary measures introduced to remove the obligation for parents to attend in person during the Covid-19 pandemic, these requirements remain unchanged.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.