Legislation published to ease the burden on families of Irish people who die abroad – Kyne

Fine Gael TD for Galway West/Mayo South, Sean Kyne, has welcomed the publication today (Thursday) of the Civil Registration Amendment Bill 2014.  The Bill contains an array of changes to the Civil Registration Act of 2004 which were previously called for by Deputy Kyne, including the creation of a new register of Irish persons who die abroad and the provision of a new Irish-issued certificate of death.

“The delay in introducing common sense changes to the law in this area has understandably been of great concern to the parents and families of loved ones have died abroad, some of whom addressed the Oireachtas in 2010 as part of the ‘Bring Them Home’ campaign.

“This new bill directly address the issue of families obtaining death certificates in cases where relatives have died suddenly while abroad – an issue which can affect families in every county.

“I have persued the issue of the legal shortcomings affecting families of Irish persons who die abroad since my election to the Dáil in early 2011, through numerous Dáil speeches and questions, as well as the introduction of my own Private Members Bill in November 2012. Galway City Councillor Padraig Conneely has also highlighted these issues and led a delegation who appeared before an Oireachtas Committee on the matter.

“I’m delighted that the legal obstacles which impeded the introduction of these important measures have been overcome, enabling the Minister for Social Protection, Joan Burton, to publish this comprehensive Bill to amend the Civil Registration Act of 2004 in such a way that will easing the burden somewhat for people whose loved ones die abroad. The Bill will introduce a new register of Irish persons who die abroad and the provision of a new Irish-issued certificate of death for those people.

“Crucially, the Minister has made the Bill retrospective so it applies to deaths that occurs before or after the commencement of the bill.

“As a result, the Bill will enable the families of Irish people who have died abroad in recent years to have the death recorded by Irish authorities and to obtain certificate equal to the Death Certificate issued by the General Registrar at present.”

ENDS

Editors’ Notes:

•  A copy of the Civil Registration Amendment Bill 2014 will be available at http://www.oireachtas.ie/ViewDoc.asp?DocId=-1&CatID=59&m=b (Or contact the Fine Gael Press Office)

• A copy of the Civil Registration (Amendment) (Domestic Registration of Death Records) Bill 2012, introduced by Deputy Kyne, is available at http://seankyne.ie/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Civil-Registration-Amendment-Bill.pdf