Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 24 September 2015
40. Deputy Ciarán Lynch asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection following the recent publication of the Marriage Bill 2015, if consideration will be given to facilitating the appointment of notaries public as marriage registrars, in order to meet the increased demand for marriage registrations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32566/15]
View answerThe Civil Registration Act 2004, as amended, provides for the categories of bodies and organisations which may apply for registration of persons on the Register of Solemnisers maintained by the Registrar-General.
These are:
- The Health Service Executive for the registration of a registrar employed by the Executive;
- A religious body (as defined) for the registration of a member of that body; and
- A secular body (as defined) for the registration of a member of that body.
As Notaries Public do not fall into any of these categories it is not possible to enter them on the Register of Solemnisers.
The increased demand for marriage solemnisations arising from the implementation of the same-sex marriage provisions in the Marriage Bill 2015 will be offset to a significant extent by the cessation in the registration of civil partnerships which is also provided for in the Bill.
There are no plans to change the categories of bodies and organisations which may apply to have their members entered on the Register of Solemnisers.
