Dáil debates

Wednesday, 7 October 2015

Marriage Bill 2015: Report Stage

 

11:40 am

Photo of Michael McNamaraMichael McNamara (Clare, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Sorry, I forgot which venue the Deputy suggested would be ideal. That cost can be borne and can be expected to be borne by the couple but so too could the cost of having a marriage on a Saturday or Sunday if there is an additional overtime cost. We need flexibility. State services, whether one is talking about the solemnisation of marriage or a bus from A to B, exist for the benefit of the public and not for the benefit of those who provide them. Obviously those who provide the services must be looked after and paid. They are essential to the provision of a good service but fundamentally a State service exists for the benefit of the public and we need to bear that in mind. I am glad that discussions are taking place on the fact that civil marriages cannot currently take place on Saturdays or Sundays. I acknowledge that there is no requirement to change legislation to achieve that and that it can be done under the existing framework if registrars will agree to marry people at weekends. However, if they continue to refuse to do so, then the point made by Deputy Shatter that civil marriages were once carried out in solicitors' offices is valid. There is no particular reason notary publics could not carry them out in the future again if the registrars are determined not to work on Saturdays and Sundays. Ultimately, registrars carry out a State function and it is a very important function provided by the State, that of marrying people.

I thank the Minister. I will not press the amendment in light of the constructive discussion we have had but it is an issue that needs to be looked at and not just parked until the next time there is a Bill before the House that happens to be about marriage. A lot needs to be done to ensure the right of gay and straight people to get married in this country becomes real and that they can marry when they want to in this State.

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