Liam Quaide (Cork East, Social Democrats)
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107. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection his plans to amend the Civil Registration Act 2004 and introduce a certificate formally recognising a pregnancy loss before 24 weeks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14358/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The Civil Registration Act 2004 allows for the registration of a stillborn child and the production of a certificate from the Register of Stillbirths. The definition of a stillborn child was most recently amended by The Civil Registration (Electronic Registration) Act 2024. The criteria for stillbirths is based on recommendations received from the Department of Health and the HSE. My Department will engage with them should they propose any future changes.

This new definition allows a child to be registered in the register of Stillbirths where the child has a gestational age of not less than 23 weeks. The Act also provides for additional criteria relating to stillbirths that are part of a multiple pregnancy.

The Deputy may be aware of a scheme in the UK, the 'Baby Loss Certificate' scheme which was introduced by the UK government as part of a response to an independent review, published in 2023, into early pregnancy loss. This is a commemorative certificate and is available upon request to parents who suffer an early loss pregnancy. The UK report recommends against establishing a formal system of registration as part of this process. The operation of the UK scheme is administered in the first instance at a hospital level, where the details of the pregnancy loss are recorded.

The introduction of a similar scheme in Ireland is largely a matter for my colleague the Minister for Health however I want to assure the Deputy that I and my officials are happy to engage as appropriate with that Department in relation to the important matter.