Madam, - The current situation in the Office of Births, Marriages and Deaths in Joyce House, with regard to genealogical research, not only threatens the livelihood of genealogists but is bound to be bad for tourism.
When I researched my family history in 1994, the public, on payment of a fee, had full access to the shelves where the index books were kept. This ensured that, despite the less that congenial surroundings, family history research could be carried out in a peaceful and stress-free manner.
This civilised system was changed a few years go. Now the public have to queue up and request a maximum of five index books from attendants who often disappear for minutes on end, leaving a line of frustrated researchers standing at an empty counter, feeling utterly powerless.
Our experienced genealogist told me recently that the situation in Joyce House is so bad that she is seriously considering changing her job. Despite scenes in the office, meetings with those in authority, letters to newspapers and politicians, the situation remains unchanged.
Because of the worldwide Irish diaspora, this country is a magnet for visitors from the UK, North America and Australia, who come here to trace their Irish roots. The Office of Births, Marriages and Deaths is usually their first port of call, but the nightmare situation which confronts them there is bound to deter all but the most persistent from continuing their search. It is as if those in authority have deliberately decided to discourage tourists who want to trace their Irish ancestry.
The Minister for Health is ultimately responsible for this ridiculous situation and if he could distract himself from the parlous state of the health system for an hour or two, a simple ministerial decree would be sufficient to restore the previous system.
The irony is that the current situation causes stress and frustration to researchers, thus damaging their health and increasing the burden on an already overburdened health system. - Yours, etc.,
Lucan,
Co Dublin.