H.E. Dr. Gints Apals:

The question of sham marriages is extremely complex and contains several elements. I only addressed one question. The criminal code of Latvia has provisions for the prosecution of people who would organise such marriages for profit. These people would be prosecuted in criminal courts in Latvia. This is not the case in Ireland. We have discussed these issues on many occasions. Of course, the Irish approach is based more on certain decisions taken by the European Court of Human Rights that see the right to engage in marriage as a basic human right that cannot be restricted in any way. Certainly both sides will continue-----