Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Senator for raising this matter. Gabhaim buíochas leis as ucht an cheist a ardú.

I will briefly outline the management and organisational arrangements for the delivery of civil registration services. Under the provisions of the Civil Registration Act 2004, the Registrar General is responsible for the maintenance, management and control of the system of civil registration. The Health Service Executive, HSE, is responsible for the provision of registration services direct to members of the public, including solemnisation of civil marriages. The country is divided into eight regions, each region equating to an area covered by the former health boards, and each region is managed by a superintendent registrar appointed by the HSE. All registrars are HSE staff members and the funding of the service is provided for in the annual Vote of the HSE.

The staffing levels in the HSE civil registration service were established as a result of an independent review carried out under the modernisation programme, including grading structures and job descriptions. The total number of staff approved for the region, which includes Louth and Meath, was 16.25 whole-time equivalents. The region also includes Cavan and Monaghan. The job descriptions designated staff at grade V as solemnisers of civil marriages. Civil marriages are also solemnised by one grade VI member of staff and by the superintendent registrar as required.

The number of staff at grade VI was approved at three - one each in counties Louth, Meath and Cavan. One grade VI is based in Dundalk and the superintendent registrar in Drogheda. The system of bookings for marriages is managed centrally in the superintendent registrar's office and registrars from across the region are deployed in a flexible manner, consistent with the provision of an efficient service.

The number of civil marriages has been growing in recent years. For example, civil marriages as a proportion of total marriages has risen from an average of 23% a year from 2005 to 2008 to 29% in 2009. The actual volume of civil marriages increased by 20% between 2007 and 2009. This, coupled with the option to have a marriage at an off-site location, has increased the workload on registration staff considerably.

The current position is that the region has a full complement of registrars who solemnise civil marriages. The superintendent registrar has confirmed that, while every effort is made to facilitate couples with their chosen date, this is not always possible due to previous bookings having been made on the date-time in question. In all cases, an alternative date is offered and every effort is made to provide the best possible service, given the resource limitations and growing demand for civil marriages.

The matter raised by the Senator is of vital importance in view of the fact the right to marry is enshrined in the European Convention on Human Rights and the special protection afforded the family under the Constitution. Consequently, I will arrange to have the issue brought to the attention of the HSE to allow the matter be kept under review and appropriate action taken, where necessary.