Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 22 Jan 1997

Vol. 473 No. 4

Written Answers. - Registration of Marriage.

Tony Killeen

Question:

133 Mr. Killeen asked the Minister for Health the way in which he proposes to address problems relating to the registration of certain marriages arising from various provisions of the Family Law Act, 1995: and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1628/97]

Tony Killeen

Question:

134 Mr. Killeen asked the Minister for Health whether any marriages have not been registered due to administrative errors in public offices relating to the Family Law Act 1995; and if he will introduce amending legislation to retrospectively give recognition to such marriages. [1629/97]

Tony Killeen

Question:

135 Mr. Killeen asked the Minister for Health the number of marriages performed in the State which have not been registered due to the failure to comply with certain provisions of the Family Law Act, 1995; and the plans, if any, he has to regularise the situation. [1630/97]

Minister for Health (Mr. Noonan,

Limerick East): I propose to take Questions Nos. 133, 134 and 135 together.

The administration of the civil registration system is a matter for An tÁrd-Chláraitheoir (Registrar-General) of Births, Deaths and Marriages and for local registrars who act under his general direction.

I am aware that there are currently 31 cases receiving attention in the Office of An tÁrd-Chláraitheoir where there has not been compliance with the requirements for a valid marriage contained in the Family Law Act, 1995.

The requirements of a valid marriage set out at sections 31 and 32 of the Family Law Act, 1995 are each declared to be a substantive requirement of a valid marriage and where either section has not been complied with a marriage may not be registered.

The difficulties in the cases referred to arise primarily from the failure of the persons concerned to give three months written notification of their intention to marry to the appropriate Registrar of Marriages as required by section 32. Unfortunately, in a small number of cases these errors did not come to light in sufficient time to enable remedial action to be taken before the marriages took place.

I very much regret the inconvenience that may be caused to the couples affected and every effort is being made to find an early and satisfactory resolution to the problems involved. Officials from my Department and the Office of An tÁrd-Chláraitheoir are currently in consultations with officials from the Department of Equality and Law Reform. All avenues of approach, including amending legislation, are being considered and decisions in the matter will be announced as quickly as possible.