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

Obviously.

To take up some of the points made, I assure Senator Mullen that my officials met the Irish Council of Churches and obviously were happy to explain the legislation and, in particular, to clarify that nothing changes for religious bodies, religious solemnisers or religious ceremonies. Again religious marriage does not become gender-neutral. I also can confirm that an tArd-Chláraitheoir has been consulted and is completely certain that nothing in the Marriage Bill will invalidate any approved form of ceremony. It allows but does not require new forms, and that is important. As matters stand, an tArd-Chláraitheoir approves the ceremonies of marriage, whether they are civil marriages only or marriages with religious and civil aspects. Those ceremonies must include declarations consistent with those set out in section 51(4)(b). A ceremony that refers only to husband and wife does meet these criteria. I really could not be more clear. A religious body will not be required to change its ceremonies. Obviously, the form of ceremony provision is intended to enable religious bodies to perform exclusively opposite-sex marriages. That is the reason for the reference to the sex of the parties. Consequently, from every point of view, while I obviously do not know what challenges people can take, I can lay out clearly what is in the legislation.