Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent) | Oireachtas source

We have received apologies from Senator Garvey. Members participating in the meeting remotely are required to do so from within the precincts of Leinster House only. I ask members and witnesses to please turn off their mobile phones or ensure they are on silent mode. I advise members of the committee who are participating in the meeting remotely to use the raised-hand icon on Microsoft Teams if they wish to contribute.

This meeting is to undertake pre-legislative scrutiny of the civil registration (electronic registration) Bill 2023. The stated objectives of the Bill are to enable online registration of births and deaths; a reduction in the time in which a death must be registered from the current three-month timeframe to 28 days; revision of the criteria for registering stillbirths and improved access to the stillbirths register; as well as the registration of a death where a coroner's inquest has not yet been concluded.

The committee welcomes this Bill and looks forward to engaging with the Department and interested groups with its scrutiny process and hopes that the suggested recommendations are taken into consideration by the Minister.

I welcome to the meeting today representatives from the Department of Social Protection, namely, Mr. Liam Daly, assistant secretary responsible for operational control; Mr. David Dillon, principal officer, General Register Office, operations and policy; and Mr. Brendan O'Loughlin, assistant principal officer, General Register Office with responsibility for legislation and marriages. They are all very welcome this morning.

Before we start, I wish to explain some limitations to parliamentary privilege and the practice of the Houses as regards references witnesses may make to other persons in their evidence. The evidence of witnesses physically present or who give evidence from within the parliamentary precincts is protected pursuant to both the Constitution and statute by absolute privilege. Witnesses are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice that they should not criticise or make charges against any person or entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable, or otherwise engage in speech that might be regarded as damaging to the good name of the person or entity. Therefore, if their statements are potentially defamatory in respect of an identifiable person or entity, they may be directed to discontinue their remarks. It is imperative they comply with any such direction.

Members are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect they should not comment on, criticise nor make charges against a person outside the Houses or an official either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.

I now call on Mr. Daly to make his opening statement.