Madam, - John Deehan and the Association of Irish Humanists (The Irish Times, March 4th and 8th) are not the only ones left feeling that they are discriminated against by the new Civil Registration Act 2004. Those born to unmarried or single parents are likewise marginalised.
For the first time in the 160-year history of this State's civil registration system "full" (or "long") certificates are no longer to be "true copies" of all the data recorded in register entries, but are now to be edited extracts. To explain further, although, at the time of registration, the date of birth and mother's birth (maiden) surname of each of a child's parent(s) is noted, these two vital pieces of information are subsequently withheld in all issued certificates.
For legal purposes, for those born to married couples it is routine to establish legal links between child and parent by way of the data recorded in the parents' marriage record. Most unfortunately, this is not an option for those born to unmarried or single parents. For this reason, only by including each parent's date of birth and mother's birth surname in birth certificates will it become routinely possible to make legal links between children and their (possibly unmarried) parents without the need of a marriage certificate.
We would do well to remember that ending the stigma of illegitimacy was the main purpose of the Status of Children Act 1987, yet getting on for 20 years later unless section 61 of the new Civil Registration Act is implemented fully such stigma will continue. - Yours, etc.,
DES K. CLARKE, Council of Irish Genealogical Organisations, St Brigid's Grove, Killester, Dublin 5.