I move amendment No. 1:
In page 3, before section 2, to insert the following new section:
"2.—Section 32 of the Act of 1995 shall not apply to marriages solemnised between the 1st day of August, 1996 and the 31st day of June, 1997.".
I wish to clarify a point made by the Minister of State. Is it true that a number of people did not give notification of their intention to marry? The Minister said the remaining 41 cases are currently being examined to establish if the requirements of the Act have been met. She also said the Bill does not provide for the validation of marriages where parties failed to give notice in time or failed to give any notice. If they failed to give notice in time of their intention to marry, are their marriages valid? Will the Minister of State indicate how many couples who believe they are married are not married? There must be a number of people who fall into that category. The amendment seeks to give those couples another chance to validate their marriages because, for one reason or another, they did not give proper notification. Does the Minister of State know if there are a number of people who did not give notification who believe they are married but are not legally married? What can be done for those people who did not give proper notification because they did not know about that requirement?