Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 27 Feb 2002

Vol. 549 No. 4

Written Answers. - International Agreements.

Ruairí Quinn

Ceist:

220 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs when Ireland will ratify the UN convention on consent to marriage, minimum age for marriage and registration of marriage of 1962; the specific steps taken towards ratification of the convention since 26 June 1997 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7074/02]

Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs (Mr. D. Ahern)

Ratification or signature by Ireland of an international agreement is a matter for decision by the Government. The United Nations Convention of 1962, referred to in this question, has not been the subject of a Government decision to date.

At present, my Department and the Department of Health and Children are undertaking a programme for the modernisation of the civil registration service. As part of this process, I have responsibility for the review and modernisation of the legislation relating to the registration of births, deaths and marriages. As a consequence of the review, I propose to publish a new civil registration Bill later this year which will modernise and consolidate the existing legislation and facilitate the introduction of new technology and organisational change. In advance of this legislation I recently published, in the Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill, 2002, a number of technical amendments to the existing legislation to facilitate the implementation of an electronic issue of birth, marriage and death certificates by registrars.

There are certain substantial issues in relation to marriage that are outside the scope of this review of legislation which need to be addressed. To address these issues the Government approved the setting up of an interdepartmental committee to establish an approach to the review of legislation relating to the registration of marriages and related issues. This committee will be set up shortly. The issue of seeking Government approval for the State to accede to the UN convention of 1962 on consent to marriage, minimum age for marriage and registration of marriage will be examined in the context of the committee's review of these issues.