Michael Healy-Rae
Ceist:42. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding a non-impediment letter. [49812/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraWednesday, 20 November 2013
Ceisteanna (42)
Freagraí scríofa
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade issues Certificats de Coutume to facilitate Irish citizens who are entering into a marriage or civil partnership abroad. It is the responsibility of the people getting married to ensure that they have the correct documentation in place to satisfy the legal requirements of the country in which they are getting married. South Africa requires foreign nationals to submit a Certificat de Coutume (letter of freedom) in order to register marriages of foreign nationals which have taken place in South Africa. In this case the Irish national involved failed to obtain a Certificat de Coutume prior to their marriage.
Regrettably it is not possible for my Department to backdate a Certificat de Coutume to a date in the past as the Certificat de Coutume is based on a statutory legal declaration made by the applicant and as such can only be issued after receipt of the statutory declaration.
If a civil letter of freedom is required for a forthcoming marriage in South Africa or elsewhere, my Department would be happy to process the application for the individual at very short notice.