STEVEN C.
Sir, - Dr Lydia Foy is not the only Irish woman to fall foul of the Registration of Births and Deaths (Ireland) Act passed by the Westminster Parliament in 1880 (The Irish Times, July 12th). This Act was selectively amended by the recent passing in May of the Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act. But, most unfortunately, the amendments failed to deal with one particular issue of immense importance to women's identities in modern Ireland.
The same 1880 Act which denies Dr Foy an adequate and non-embarrassing "short" birth certificate also causes every married, widowed, separated or divorced woman who dies in the Republic of Ireland to be registered only under her husband's surname.
During the Seanad stages of the Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill, all Opposition and Independent senators agreed with the Council of Irish Genealogical Organisations and the Law Society that in future all deaths registered in the State should include the deceased's date and place of birth and the maiden surname of married women. However, the Government rejected this proposal and insisted - quite amazingly - that there was no need to record such detail (even though it had been general practice in Northern Ireland since 1973)!
There is to be a further civil registration Bill brought to the Oireachtas some time next year. Undoubtedly, this Bill should make provision for such registration-related issues as inheritance, equal status and gender - all of which have long needed to be addressed through robust primary legislation. The Tánaiste, Mrs Brian Geoghegan, could help too. She could give those behind the Bill a nudge to remind them that a maiden surname is an important part of a modern Irish woman's identity. - Yours, etc.,
Steven C.Ffeary-Smyrl,
MAPGI,
Council of Irish Genealogical Organisations,
Templemore Avenue,
Dublin 6.
