Vol. 533 No. 6
259 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Health and Children the requirements imposed by the State on couples from outside the State who wish to travel here to get married; the registration requirements involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9722/01]
The administration of the registration system is a matter for An tÁrd-Chláraitheoir, the Registrar-General of Births, Deaths and Marriages, and for local registrars who operate under his general direction.
To contract a valid marriage in the State the parties to the marriage have the capacity to marry each other, freely consent to the marriage and observe the necessary statutory formalities. The requirements for a valid marriage include the following – both parties to the marriage must be over 18 years of age and each party to the marriage must give at least three months prior written notification of their intention to so marry to the registrar of marriages. A person may apply to the High Court or the Circuit Family Court for an exemption order in relation to these requirements. These requirements apply to all marriages within the State.
The other additional preliminaries and procedures for the registration of marriage depend on whether the marriage is by a civil ceremony in the office of the registrar of marriages or a religious ceremony. For a marriage to be solemnised in the office of the registrar of marriages both parties must fulfil statutory residence requirements before they can apply to the registrar for a certificate, seven days, or a licence, 15 days. The application procedure involved the personal attendance of one of the parties at the office of the registrar to complete forms and declarations required for the service of notice of marriage on the registrar. Marriage by licence may not take place until the eight day after the notice of marriage is received by the Registrar, while marriage by certificate may not take place until the twenty-second day at the earliest after notice of marriage was received.
