Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I raised some queries about this section of the Bill, which relates to marriages of convenience, on Second Stage. What is the relevant level here? The major change we are being asked to agree will make it quite difficult for non-EU citizens to marry. At the very least, it will make them jump through an extra loop through which Irish citizens do not have to jump. Due to the level of emigration in recent years, many young Irish citizens have travelled abroad. In the coming years, some of them might come back to Ireland with a fiancé in order to marry here. We need to be careful to ensure what we provide for here does not restrict a loving couple in any way. Is the problem of marriages of convenience of such a scale that it requires a substantial change in law? We have heard about it in the newspapers, especially in the tabloids that love to run with stories suggesting that problems like this are rampant. The number of marriages involving EU or non-EU citizens in Ireland is not that high. I think it was higher in 2009. Some of the criteria that will be considered are quite interesting. They show how much we have moved. One of the factors to be considered is whether "the parties to the intended marriage have lived together in the past or if they currently live together". I can imagine Archbishop McQuaid looking at that many moons ago.

The questions on where they have lived are interesting, particularly if it was abroad. There is always the test with regard to how they know each other. Many years ago I was on a television programme similar to "Mr & Mrs" on Teilifís na Gaeilge when it was in its infancy; that is how far back it was. I do not think between us my wife and I got any of the questions right.