Birth certificates will be changed so as to enable the recording of two women as the parents of a child according to legislation announced by the Government yesterday.

The change would allow the female same-sex partner of the mother of a donor-conceived child to also register as a parent of the child.

Minister for Social Protection Regina Doherty said the preparation of the Civil Registration Bill 2019 had been approved and it is expected the Bill will be published and brought before the houses of the Oireachtas this spring.

Biological mothers and fathers may also avail of the label “Parent” should they so request it.

Ms Doherty said while the changes proposed would affect a relatively small number of people, “they touch on matters that are very sensitive and of great importance to those families affected”.

“I have met and spoken to many affected by this issue and I am now very pleased to be able to bring these changes forward as a priority to ensure that they can be introduced as soon as possible,” she said.