Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 26 Mar 1996

Vol. 463 No. 3

Written Answers. - Registry Office Accommodation.

Róisín Shortall

Ceist:

90 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the totally inadequate accommodation at the Registry Office in Molesworth Street, Dublin 2; the plans, if any, he has to provide more suitable accommodation which can cater for larger wedding-parties; the consideration, if any, he has given to the possibility of the Registrar being permitted to perform marriage ceremonies in other locations such as hotels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5970/96]

Minister for Health (Mr. Noonan,

Limerick East): The administration of the registration system for marriages is a matter for An t-Árd Chláraitheoir (Registrar-General) of Births, Deaths and Marriages and for local registrars who operate under his general direction. The duties of registrars of marriages appointed in accordance with the Marriages (Ireland) Act, 1844, are set down in the various marriage Acts and include the taking of notice of marriage, the solemnisation of and the registration of marriages. Each registrar is required under the marriages act to maintain an office within his/her designated district (there are currently 30 such offices within the State).

A registrar may solemnise a marriage either in his own office or may register a marriage solemnised in his presence in a building, used for religious worship, which is registered for the solemnisation of marriage in accordance with the provisions of section 27 of the Marriages (Ireland) Act, 1844. The registrar may also solemnise a marriage at a place outside his office on foot of a special licence issued by An t-Árd Chláraitheoir in accordance with the provisions of section 16 of the Marriages Act, 1972 (number 30 of 1972). However, an t-Árd Chláraitheoir may only grant such a licence on being satisfied that one of the parties to be married is unable to attend the office of the registrar because of serious ill health. There is no provision in the Marriage Acts enabling a registrar to solemnise a marriage at a hotel, nor is there any provision for the registration of hotels for this purpose.

The office of the Registrar of Marriages for Dublin is located in a solicitor's premises at 31 Molesworth Street. I am aware that misgivings have been expressed as to the capacity of the office in relation to large wedding parties. An t-Árd Chláraitheoir has advised, in relation to that office, that the room used for the solemnisation of marriages can accommodate between 15 and 20 guests with varying degrees of comfort. It is understood that the parties attending the majority of marriages solemnised by the registrar can easily be accommodated and that it is only in a minority of cases that the accommodation may impose a limit on the number of guests which can be accommodated. However, it is understood that within these constraints every effort is made to facilitate couples who wish to enhance the brief civil ceremony by incorporating poetry readings or music in the occasion.

As the Deputy may be aware, the whole area of registration law, including marriage law is under review. The general issue raised by the Deputy is being addressed as a matter of some priority within the context of that review.