Know Your Rights : Getting an ‘apostille stamp’

Question

I was born in London and I have an Irish passport. I am getting married later this year in Dublin. I have been told that I must provide a birth certificate with an apostille stamp. My Irish fiancé has not been asked to produce this certificate. Why is this?

Answer

The Civil Registration Act 2004 requires both people getting married in the Republic of Ireland to provide evidence of their identities, civil status, age and nationality. If either person was born outside of the State, an authenticated birth certificate is required. Since you were born in the United Kingdom, you need such a birth certificate, even if you are entitled to an Irish passport.

The Hague Convention (1961) specifies how a document issued in one of the signatory countries can be authenticated or certified for legal purposes in all the other signatory states. Such a certification is called an apostille (in French this means certification). An apostille stamp is an international certification, like a notarisation in domestic law, which authenticates or legally certifies a document.

The Irish Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (including staff in Irish embassies, consulates and honorary consulates overseas) can authenticate documents for Irish-born people getting married abroad.

In the UK apostille stamps are issued by the Legalisation Office of the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO). Visit fco.gov.uk/legalisation to find out more about the process. You can also email legalisationenquiries@fco.gsi.gov.uk or telephone +4420 7008 5959.

Further information is available from the Citizens Information Centre below.

Know Your Rights has been compiled by Dungloe Citizens Information Service which provides a free and confidential service to the public.   Tel: 0761075430 Address: Dungloe Public Services Centre

Information is also available online at citizensinformation.ie and from the Citizens Information Phone Service, 0761 07 4000.

 

Bíodh Eolas agat ar do Chearta : ‘Stampa apastaile’ a fháil

Meitheamh 2014

 Ceist

Rugadh i Londain mé agus tá pas Éireannach agam. Beidh mé ag pósadh níos moille i mbliana i mBaile Átha Cliath. Dúradh liom nach mór dom teastas breithe mar aon le stampa apastaile a léiriú. Níor iarradh ar m’fhear geallta Éireannach an teastas sin a léiriú. Cén fáth a bhfuil sé seo amhlaidh?

Freagra

Ceanglaítear leis an Acht um Chlárú Sibhialta 2004 ar an mbeirt atá ag pósadh i bPoblacht na hÉireann fianaise ar a gcéannacht, ar a stádas sibhialta, ar a n-aois agus ar a náisiúntacht a chur ar fáil. Más rud é gur rugadh ceachtar duine lasmuigh den Stát, beidh teastas breithe fíordheimhnithe ag teastáil. Ós rud é gur rugadh sa Ríocht Aontaithe thú, beidh teastas breithe den chineál sin ag teastáil uait, fiú má tá tú i dteideal pas Éireannach.

Sonraítear le Coinbhinsiún na Háige (1961) conas is féidir doiciméad a eisíodh i gceann amháin de na tíortha sínithe a fhíordheimhniú nó a dheimhniú chun críocha dlíthiúla sna stáit sínithe go léir eile. Tugtar apastaile ar an deimhniúchán sin (ciallaíonn sé sin ‘deimhniú’ i bhFraincis). Is é is stampa apastaile ann ná deimhniúchán idirnáisiúnta, cosúil le nótaireacht sa dlí intíre, lena ndéantar doiciméad a fhíordheimhniú nó é a dheimhniú go dlíthiúil.

Is féidir leis an Roinn Gnóthaí Eachtracha agus Trádála de chuid na hÉireann (lena n-áirítear foireann in ambasáidí, i gconsalachtaí agus i gconsalachtaí oinigh na hÉireann thar lear) doiciméid a fhíordheimhniú do dhaoine a rugadh in Éirinn atá ag pósadh thar lear.

Sa Ríocht Aontaithe, is é Oifig Fíoraithe na hOifige Eachtraí agus Comhlathais a eisíonn stampaí apastaile (FCO). Téigh chuig fco.gov.uk/legalisation chun tuilleadh eolais faoin bpróiseas a fháil. Chomh maith leis sin, is féidir leat r-phost a chur chuig legalisationenquiries@fco.gsi.gov.uk nó glao gutháin a chur ar +4420 7008 5959.

Tá tuilleadh eolais le fáil ón Ionad Faisnéise do Shaoránaigh thíos.

Chuir Ionad Faisnéise do Shaoránaigh An Clocháin Liath ‘Bíodh Eolas agat ar do Chearta’ le chéile.  Cuireann an tIonad seo seirbhís shaor in aisce agus faoi rún ar fáil don phobal. Teil: 0761075430 Seoladh: Ionad Serbhisí Pobal An Clocháin Liath.

Tá faisnéis le fáil freisin ar líne ag citizensinformation.ie agus ón tSeirbhís Teileafóin um Fhaisnéis do Shaoránaigh, 0761 07 4000.

Know Your Rights : The Energy Engage Code

June 2014

Question

What is the ‘Energy Engage’ Code?

Answer
The ‘Energy Engage Code’ is a new code of practice which aims to protect energy customers who are in financial difficulty, particularly those in arrears on their bills. It applies to five energy suppliers with effect from 1 June 2014 – these are Bord Gáis Energy, Electric Ireland, Energia, Flogas Natural Gas and SSE Airtricity.
Under the Energy Engage Code, suppliers guarantee that no customer engaging with them will be cut off. The energy suppliers will seek to identify vulnerable customers at an earlier stage. They commit to treating each customer individually and offering realistic and achievable payment plans to customers in difficulty. The Energy Engage Code will be independently audited to ensure that the participating energy suppliers are complying with it.

In addition to the new code of practice, all energy suppliers must comply with certain mandatory consumer protection standards that are set out by the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER).

All suppliers are obliged to establish a register of vulnerable customers and to keep it updated. Customers listed on this register cannot be disconnected during the months November to March. A customer in arrears must be offered a payment arrangement, which can include the installation of a Pay As You Go meter, while avoiding a situation where the debt becomes worse.

“At risk” customers must be referred to MABS, The St Vincent de Paul Society or a representative of the Department of Social Protection (formerly called the Community Welfare Officer). A supplier can consider applying for a disconnection only if these measures fail, and only after at least four separate attempts to contact the customer have been made.

Further information is available from the Citizens Information Centre below.

Know Your Rights has been compiled by Dungloe Citizens Information Service which provides a free and confidential service to the public.

Tel: 0761075431 Address: Dungloe Public Services Centre

Information is also available online at citizensinformation.ie and from the Citizens Information Phone Service, 0761 07 4000.

Know Your Rights : Self-employed people and Jobseeker’s Allowance

June 2014

Question

My small business is not doing well at present so my income has dropped substantially. Am I entitled to any social welfare payment?

Answer

If the amount of work you are getting from self-employment has reduced so much that it no longer provides a sufficient income, you may qualify for Jobseeker’s Allowance. You must meet all the conditions to qualify for this payment, including a means test, but you do not need to close your business or stop working as a self-employed person.

The earnings from your business will be assessed in the means test. The assessment must reflect the income that you may reasonably be expected to get from your business over the next 12 months. Income for the last 12 months will be taken as a guide, but the means test will also allow for any factors that are likely to vary. You should be prepared to discuss these factors when you are being assessed for the payment.

Your earnings over the 12 months are assessed as your gross income minus work-related expenses. Your expected annual earnings from self-employment are divided by 52 to find your weekly means from self-employment.

Usually, you will be asked for your receipts and payments or audited accounts for the current and previous year. For example, if you apply for Jobseeker’s Allowance in May 2014, you will be asked for your receipts and payments from January 2014 to May 2014 and for 2013. However, in certain cases you may be required to show audited accounts for the last two or more years.

You may qualify for Supplementary Welfare Allowance while you are waiting to be assessed for Jobseeker’s Allowance or if a decision is made that you don’t qualify for Jobseeker’s Allowance.

The website selfemployedsupports.ie has further information on the services and entitlements available.

Further information is available from the Citizens Information Centre below.

Know Your Rights has been compiled by Dungloe Citizens Information Service which provides a free and confidential service to the public.

Tel: 0761075430 Address: Dungloe Public Services Centre.

Information is also available online at citizensinformation.ie and from the Citizens Information Phone Service, 0761 07 4000.