Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senator van Turnhout and I acknowledge that this is an extremely well drafted amendment. I can confirm that the interdepartmental group has met and has been considering this issue. Under the law as it stands, as the Senator has said, it is normally an impediment to marriage if a party is under the age of 18. However, it is not an absolute impediment. Young people, as the Senator has outlined very clearly, may get a court exemption allowing them to marry. I take seriously the points the Senator has made on those circumstances. If we can ensure better protection for children, we should do so.

The House has discussed this issue before and I know it is the collective view that it is desirable for a number of reasons to consider a complete ban on underage marriage. I agree with the points of concern about underage marriage - the question of immaturity, power differentials and the kind of consequences that could arise for young people in these circumstances but it is not a matter for inclusion in this Bill today. The scope of the Bill is very specifically limited to removing the impediment to marriage of the parties being the same sex, to making provision on religious bodies and to amending other legislation to ensure that same-sex couples are treated equally. It is not about that wider reform of the marriage law, although it is obviously about reform and restricting access to marriage for other categories of persons. Work is ongoing on this and I regard it as a priority. I believe we could draft something in the near future. We will try to find a suitable legislation, which either I or a colleague will bring forward, and include this amendment in it. There is widespread support for it. I agree with what Senator van Turnhout and other Senators have said that this is the right way forward. I ask the Senator to withdraw the amendment on that basis today.