PAUL GORRY,
Sir, - The registration of births, deaths and marriages is important in many ways. In buying or selling property people often have to obtain certificates for legal purposes. Civil records are also used in investigating hereditary diseases, in establishing citizenship, inheritance from distant relatives, and in genealogical research.
Of the three Irish civil records, the death certificate is least informative, giving minimal details (name of deceased, date, place and cause of death, marital status, age and occupation). In 1969 the system in England and Wales was revised, and since 1973, when legislation modernised registration requirements in Northern Ireland, the Republic has been operating the most out-of-date death registration in the English-speaking world. Those regularly using civil records for medical, inheritance, actuarial and genealogical research have long been waiting for the opportunity to contribute to the modernisation of the system. Sadly, it appears that the Government places no value on their experience and expertise.
Amendments to the registration system are currently being sped through the Oireachtas as attachments to the Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2002. These include welcome changes to birth records, but recommendations on modernising death registration have been ignored.
The additional information to be included in future death records as the Bill currently stands are date of birth or age (in place of age only), "occupation of person's spouse" and "occupation of person's parents or guardians", along with a new Personal Public Service Number (PPSN).
Apparently the deceased's place of birth, parents' names and spouse's name are of no interest to anyone. Even the maiden surname of a married, widowed or divorced woman will not be included. So how does this improve the present situation? Unfortunately, it does not, and with increased mobility and migration it will be a nightmare in years to come for researchers to match a death certificate to the deceased's birth or marriage record without knowing where he/she was born, his/her parents' names, his/her spouse's name or her surname at birth. Theoretically, the PPSN will link one's birth, marriage and death records. But this does not address the public interest, as the PPSN will not be in the public domain.
The modernisation of civil registration is far too important an issue to be merely rubber-stamped as a tack-on to a money Bill. This Bill is determining the system of recording information for future generations. Its implications have not been thought through, and adequate consultation with those who understand those implications has not taken place. This is a good opportunity squandered. - Yours, etc.,
PAUL GORRY,
Baltinglass,
Co Wicklow.