Data Sharing Agreement for Foreign Birth Registration Data - DSPDFA 012_220819

The Department of Social Protection (DSP) have entered into a Data Sharing Agreement (DSA) under the Data Sharing and Governance Act 2019 with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to assist DFA in verifying that details presented by an applicant for entry to the Foreign Birth Register are authentic and correct.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) maintains the Foreign Birth Register (FBR). In order to be entered on the Register, amongst other documentation, an Irish birth certificate must be submitted by an applicant as part of the application process. To ensure the integrity of the application process, the DFA need to verify that the certificate(s) provided are authentic and be satisfied that the information associated with any application provided is correct. In some cases, in order for the DFA to be satisfied that a certificate is authentic, they will request information from the General Register Office in relation to certificates supplied to it by an applicant for entry to the FBR.

The General Register Office, under the aegis of the Department of Social Protection, is sharing data to assist DFA verify entitlement for entry into the Foreign Birth Register.