The Head of the Department may appoint a fit and competent person as the Registrar General of Births and Deaths in Northern Ireland (in this Order referred to as “the Registrar General”).

Section 18(2) of the Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954 [1954 c.33] (provisions as to holders of offices) shall apply to the appointment of the Registrar General.

The Registrar General shall transmit to the Head of the Department an annual report setting out the numbers of live-births and still-births and deaths registered during each year, together with such other information as he considers it appropriate to include or as the Head of the Department may require, and the Head of the Department shall lay the report before the Assembly.