Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 10 Jul 1990

Vol. 401 No. 4

Written Answers. - Nullity of Marriages.

Alan Shatter

Question:

144 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Justice if he will outline, in respect of each of the years 1980 to 1989, the number of petitions seeking a civil decree of nullity of marriage which have been issued in the High Court; the number of decrees of annulment which have been granted in the High Court; the number which have been granted on appeal by the Supreme Court; and whether it is intended to introduce legislation on nullity of marriage as proposed by the Law Reform Commission.

Minister for Justice (Mr. Burke)

My Department have already supplied the Deputy with details of civil decrees of nullity of marriage for the years 1980 to 1985. The figures for the years 1986 to 1989 are as follows:

Year	1986	1987	1988	1989
Number of Petitions Issued	24	40	41	46
Number of Decrees Granted	14	20	13	21

During the above period no decrees of civil annulment of marriage were granted by the Supreme Court.

The law on nullity of marriage is being kept under review in my Department and consideration of the recommendations of the Law Reform Commission is part of that review. Any legislative proposals which may arise therefrom will be announced by me in the ordinary way in due course.