User:Jnestorius/Irish personal names

Law

The Ulster King of Arms handled change of name clauses in wills until 1931, which changed by either the Statute of Westminster 1931 or the adoption of the External Great Seal.

Common law name by repute, bilingual alternatives not allowed:

The fact that a person's birth is registered in one or other of the official languages of the State does not impact upon a person's right to be known by either the Irish or English version of their name. A person acquires their name by use and repute under the common law, and there is no requirement in law that a person must be known by the name contained in their birth entry.

If a person who uses a name other than that which is entered in the register of births wishes to have an official record of this, it is open to the person concerned to obtain a change of name by Deed Poll.

With regard to the question of rectifying the situation in legislation, it is important to be aware of the fact that, while a birth certificate is not proof of identity, it is often accepted as such and, in any event, is an important document used to establish identity. It is difficult, therefore, to see how multiple versions of a birth certificate in respect of the same person could be issued without increasing opportunities for identity fraud and undermining the systems of civil registration, driving licences and passport issue.