Emer Currie (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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610. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to outline the confidentiality safeguards available in the General Register Office to protect at-risk families prior to and following birth registration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38703/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Under Section 19 of the Civil Registration Act 2004, as amended, it is the duty of a parent of a child born in the State to have the birth registered within 3 months, following which a certificate may be produced.

A person who has knowledge of the particulars of birth may apply to either the General Registers Office or a Civil Registration Office for a birth certificate for a person born in the State. A prescribed fee is payable in advance of any certificate issuing.

This availability of certificates is a longstanding feature of civil registration law and is there to ensure that public interests are met including, inter alia, the right to a child to biological information.There is no general exemption or provision to withhold the issuing of a certificate for a standard birth registration when the prescribed requirements have been fulfilled. However my Officials would be happy to engage with you further on the matter if there are particular circumstances you may be concerned with.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.