As many of you will know the Department of Health & Children and the Department of Welfare, Community & Family Affairs are now engaged in a period of consultation regarding the future of Irish civil registration. In this regard, CIGO suggests that as part of the general campaign to get an all-round better service at the GRO as much publicity should be generated as possible. Firstly, CIGO suggests that you should put pen to paper and write a short letter about the GRO and civil registration and send it for publication to the Irish Times, the Irish Independent and the Irish Examiner. Secondly, please e-mail or telephone the Marian Finnucane radio show. The more e-mails and telephone calls the show receives the more likely it is that the subject will be given an airing. Send your e-mail to Marian Finnicane with the words 'Civil Registration' in the subject box. E-mail: [email protected] In both instances, please drive home the fact that for the first time in over 150 years the Department of Health is seriously considering denying access to Irish civil registration records. The records of the GRO are 'public records' and have been open to direct public access since 1845 - and for very good reasons. The general Irish populace and those of Irish descent living overseas need access to records of birth death and marriage for such diverse reasons as health issues, tracing birth parents, inheritance, family history, tracing old friends, confirming possibly suspect information, and probate, to name but a few. The list is endless and unless we fight this move there is a real possibility that the Department may get its way ! PLEASE - do this today, don't put it off until it's too late ! Kind regards,