I am calling on the Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton to amend the Civil Registration Act 2004 so that the families of Irish citizens who die abroad can have their deaths registered at home in Ireland. Currently this act provides registration of death in Ireland if the person has died on Irish aircraft or ship, a foreign ship or aircraft in transit or a serving member of the Garda Síochána or the Defence Forces. This means that for the majority of Irish citizens who die abroad their deaths will never be recorded or registered in their home country. 210 Irish citizens died abroad in 2010, that’s 210 deaths not recorded in Ireland. 193 Irish citizens died abroad in 2011, none of these deaths registered in Ireland These figures include Irish citizens who have died abroad while on holiday, working and living abroad either temporarily or permanently. An estimated 40,000 Irish people emigrated in 2011. This is a serious issue that needs to be looked at considering the volumes of Irish people currently travelling abroad. I would ask the Minister to amend this legislation for the sake of our citizens who lose their lives abroad as well as their grieving families who are left behind.

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