Skip to main content
Normal View

Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 27 May 1970

Vol. 247 No. 2

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Marriage Annulment.

2.

asked the Minister for Health if the State recognises the annulment of marriage by the Roman Catholic Church.

As Minister for Health, I am concerned with marriages in so far as they are registered in the civil registers maintained under the Registration of Marriages Acts. The question of recognition of an annulment of marriage by the Roman Catholic Church does not arise in that connection.

As the State registers Roman Catholic marriages without cost to the people concerned would the Minister consider making regulations authorising the cancellation of the marriage on receipt of a certificate of annulment from the Roman Catholic Church at no cost to the interested parties?

That is a very leading question which would involve the Minister for Justice. I am merely concerned with the registration of marriages.

If the marriage is annulled, surely the Minister has a function as well?

In the eyes of the State the original marriage contract of a Roman Catholic marriage still holds.

The Church says that the marriage has been annulled but the Minister says they are still married.

If an action for an annulment is taken in a civil court is it the practice not to contest that action if there has been a religious annulment?

A civil authority would recognise an annulment taken in the civil court.

The question I asked the Minister was whether it is the practice not to contest the annulment in the civil courts if an action is taken for a civil annulment following a religious annulment.

I suppose the Minister will agree we are getting into deep water here?

We are. I am only giving the House the facts.

As the State accepts the certificate of marriage from the priest who performs the marriage and then registers the marriage having received that certificate, is it not correct that the State should accept the certificate of annulment from the Church and cancel the marriage?

I cannot intervene here because it is a matter of the law and the Constitution of the country. I have given Deputies all the facts and I cannot go any further.

Top
Share