Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)

I was just consulting with the registrar on Senator Mooney's question. Three bodies had their applications refused by the Registrar General. These applications were subsequently appealed to the previous Minister. One appeal was upheld, one rejected and one is still under appeal. I understand that the one that was upheld was that of Pagan Federation Ireland, which is represents people who would describe themselves as witches and so on. They would have a variety of beliefs and describe themselves as forming a federation. That was upheld by the previous Minister because it came within the remit of the original legislation. One is under appeal - I believe it was a community-type body that applied. Its qualification was not clear, but obviously the organisation itself felt - perhaps for good reason - that it wished to have people solemnise weddings.

In the very interesting debate we have had all those who spoke said they want to see the celebration of the institution of marriage done in an appropriate and solemn way. The definition has been taken from the work done at European level to get a definition that is appropriate and reflected in the Lisbon treaty. As has been said here the conditions are onerous requiring bodies qualifying under those conditions to have a track record and a certain time to have elapsed so that it will be possible to identify that they meet the criteria. The alternative of having a looser regime might result in the surprising qualification of a number of organisations that Senators present might not welcome celebrating and solemnising marriages. In some jurisdictions, particularly in some states in the United States, there is a very commercial element to the solemnisation of marriage often in ways that we in Ireland would not find appropriate in terms of the solemnity and the statement the couple is making to their family and friends, and to society in general.