Legislation Published On Irish Who Die Abroad

New legislation has been published that will see the creation of a new register of Irish people who die abroad and includes the provision of a new Irish-issued certificate of death.

The Civil Registration Amendment Bill 2014 updates 2004's Civil Registration Act, with "common sense changes to the law", Fine Gael's Sean Kyne has said.

"Changes to the law in this area has understandably been of great concern to the parents and families of loved ones have died abroad, some of whom addressed the Oireachtas in 2010 as part of the ‘Bring Them Home’ campaign," Mr Kyne said, while welcoming the publication of the new legislation.

"This new bill directly address the issue of families obtaining death certificates in cases where relatives have died suddenly while abroad - an issue which can affect families in every county.

"As a result, the Bill will enable the families of Irish people who have died abroad in recent years to have the death recorded by Irish authorities and to obtain certificate equal to the Death Certificate issued by the General Registrar at present."

(MH/IT)