Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 26 October 2006
116 Mr. J. O’Keeffe asked the Minister for Health and Children the parts of the Civil Registration Act 2004 relating to marriage and marriage registration that have not been implemented; the objections that remain thereto; and when she expects the provisions of the Act to be fully operational. [34997/06]
View answerAn tArd-Chláraitheoir, the Registrar General, is the person with statutory responsibility for the administration of the civil registration system in Ireland, including civil marriages. I have made enquiries with an tArd-Chláraitheoir and the position is as follows. The Civil Registration Act, 2004 provides for the commencement of the various provisions of the Act on a gradual basis. Parts 1, 2, 3, 5 and 8 of the Act, which relate to the administration of the service and the registration of births, stillbirths and deaths, were commenced on 5 December 2005. The new provisions for marriage are set out in Part 6 of the 2004 Act and include universal procedures for notification, solemnisation and registration of marriages, as well as a choice of venue for civil marriage ceremonies. Before the provisions can be commenced, a substantial body of work needs to be completed, including drafting and publication of regulations, guidelines and detailed procedures; establishment of a register of solemnisers in consultation with religious bodies; establishment of a register of approved venues for civil marriages; and the further development of the computer system to facilitate the administration of the new marriage provisions introduced in the Act: Work in all these areas is underway and is progressing well. There are no objections to the implementation of the marriage provisions that I am aware of.
In view of the number of complex tasks involved in preparing for the commencement of the marriage provisions, it is not possible to be definitive as regards a date for signing commencement orders, but it is unlikely to be before mid-2007. I would like to assure the Deputy that a comprehensive public information campaign will be undertaken at the appropriate time.
