asked the Minister for Finance if he will state (i) whether at any time between 1931 and 1941 a document purporting to be a certificate of marriage issued by the Blacksmith of Gretna Green was submitted to the Minister by an officer in the public service in support of a claim for a marriage allowance; (ii) the date on which a document of this kind was so submitted; (iii) whether the said document was accepted by the Minister as proof of a legal marriage entitling the officer concerned to claim a marriage allowance; (iv) what action, if any, the Minister took in regard to the presentation of the document; (v) whether a marriage allowance was paid to the officer at a later date, and, if so, the date from which such payment was made and the date and nature of the document which was accepted by the Minister as warranting the payment.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Marriage Certificate.
The replies to the various parts of the Deputy's question are as follows:—
(i) A certificate of marriage so issued was submitted to the officer's Department.
(ii) 11th August, 1939.
(iii) and (iv) The then Minister for Finance was advised (a) that the marriage was legally valid, (b) that the said certificate might be accepted as the equivalent of the usual form of marriage certificate, but (c) that formal registration was desirable. The officer was, accordingly, requested to submit a certificate of registration of marriage in order to be placed on the married scale.
(v) On 28th October, 1939, the officer submitted a certificate of registration of marriage effected on 11th October, 1939, and was then placed on the married scale with effect on and from 20th July, 1939, the date of the certificate referred to at (i) above.