asked the Taoiseach if he will make a statement on the outcome of his recent discussions with the Churches on the problem of marriage breakdown; if any further such discussions are planned; if he will now be placing proposals before the Dáil for the removal of the constitutional prohibition on divorce, or if he is planning any other initiatives to deal with the problems of marriage breakdown.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Discussions with Churches.
1.
The Minister for Justice and I had very useful consultations, on the range of matters arising from the report of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Marriage Breakdown, with representatives of the principal Churches, namely, the Roman Catholic, Church of Ireland, Presbyterian, Methodist, the Jewish Congregation, the Society of Friends and the Baptist Union of Ireland.
The question of the Government's response to the issues raised by the joint committee is at present being considered, and I hope it will be possible to reach a conclusion on at least some of these issues shortly. No further meetings with the Churches are proposed at present.
Could the Taoiseach give an indication of the time scale within which he expects the Government to reach conclusions on these deliberations and proposals in relation to marriage breakdown?
I expect the Minister and I will come to the Government shortly with proposals and I expect the Government to deal with them with their usual expedition.
Does the Taoiseach expect to have legislation on this issue before the House prior to the summer recess?
That is for the Government to decide when the matter is brought before them.
Does the Taoiseach foresee two Bills or one Bill coming before the House — a referendum Bill and a divorce Bill together or will they be separate Bills?
The Deputy will be aware that the issues dealt with by the committee were wide-ranging. There were eight separate topics identified as appropriate for consideration with the Churches and on which I sought their views. I could not easily assess at this stage what pattern of legislation might be necessary to deal with the various issues because they would not necessarily all fall within the framework of a single Bill. That is a matter the Government will have to consider when the Minister for Justice and I report to them.
Does the Taoiseach see a divorce referendum as a priority among the issues raised in the report, and does he see that there is a necessity to bring forward legislation on this issue as quickly as possible?
It is one of the major issues, but it is only one of a number of issues involved. This is an issue which, of its nature, would have to be dealt with before legislation can be introduced in regard to the question of the dissolution of marriage. The question of how these matters should be handled is something the Government will have to determine.