--part1_31.1425681a.28203d4b_boundary Content-Type: text/plain; charset="ISO-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable My friend in the Welfare Dept. in Dublin just sent me this article..hot off=20 the press! Good new for everyone! ~Sue :} (excuse the cross-postings!) ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::= :: ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: HIGH TECH MODERNISATION OF BIRTHS MARRIAGES AND DEATHS =A0 =A0 =A0=A0 REGISTRATION PROPOSED IN NEW CONSULTATION DOCUMENT Ministers Dermot Ahern and Michael Martin today to-day joined=20 forces to launch a consultation document as the first step in=20 modernising the system of registration of births, deaths and=20 marriages (Civil Registration). The document "Bringing Civil Registration into the 21st Century"=20 is intended to inform people of the plans to modernise the Civil=20 Registration Service and to seek the views of the widest=20 possible audience. Speaking at the launch, Minister Ahern said "The present system=20 is now over 150 years old and needs to be modernised. The=20 Government is committed to delivering a high quality public=20 service by exploiting the best technology now available. This is=20 a good example of that promise in action. It will make queues=20 for births certificates a thing of the past by taking the need=20 for paper certificates out of the system." Minister Martin went on to say "We are spending some =A37 million=20 on developing a modern Civil Registration Service as part of the=20 Government's modernisation action programme. This is a key=20 building block in the integration of public services and=20 eGovernment with the objective of providing more convenient=20 access to information and services".=20 Following a competitive tendering process, the contract has been=20 awarded to Accenture. Ian Slattery, partner, Accenture said=20 "Accenture is delighted to be working with Government on the=20 modernisation of the Civil Registration Service. The=20 modernisation programme will radically transform the way=20 citizens interact with the Departments and will firmly move the=20 Departments to the fore in the provision of services to citizens=20 electronically." The key proposals in the Consultation document are: =B7 Registrars of Births to be located in maternity hospitals to=20 =A0 allow easier registration. =B7 Marriage notification/registration may be completed at any=20 =A0 Registrar's office. =B7 Registration may be completed by post. =B7 Certificate to be provided free of charge where the event is=20 =A0 registered within a specified time. =B7 Personal Public Service Number to be allocated at birth=20 =A0 registration. =B7 All adoptions, both national and foreign, to be registered. =B7 A central divorce/nullity database to be created.=20 =B7 Birth/Death/Marriage certificates to be forwarded=20 =A0 electronically to the Department of Social, Community and=20 =A0 Family Affairs for social welfare purposes eg Child Benefit.=20