Colm Burke (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for coming into the House to deal with this matter.

In the past few months a number of people have been in contact with me to raise the concern that registrars for marriages are not available on Saturdays and Sundays. I know that, traditionally, in Ireland weddings take place six days a week, although not necessarily on a Sunday. There has been a change in that regard. People have said, in particular, that registrars are not available on a Saturday. A proposal that has been put to me is that notaries public could perform this task, as they have to go through a robust system before being appointed in the courts system. As there is a notary public in every major centre of population throughout the country, he or she might be a suitable person to be appointed.

The Irish Institute of Celebrants runs a course which leaves people with all of the qualifications required to conduct wedding ceremonies, but they are not recognised as official registrars. The institute has contacted me because people are taking the course and possess the qualifications and although they can conduct ceremonies, they are not recognised as official registrars. It costs approximately €2,500 to take the course which is quite intense. The rules and regulations must be complied with, but it does not cover the registration of marriages. There is an issue on Saturdays and Sundays as registrars are not available to conduct ceremonies. Could amending legislation be introduced to deal with the matter?