Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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Question 323: To ask the Minister for Health and Children when the public will be able to avail of the opportunity of conducting a civil marriage in places other than a registry office as provided for in the Civil Registration Act 2004; her views on whether many of these registry offices are unable to facilitate any type of substantial gathering; her further views on whether there has been an increase in the number of civil marriages; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31884/06]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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An tArd-Chláraitheoir, the Registrar General, is the person with statutory responsibility for the administration of the civil registration system in Ireland, including civil marriages. I have made enquiries with an tArd-Chláraitheoir and the position is as follows.

The Civil Registration Act, 2004 provides for the commencement of the various provisions of the Act on a gradual basis. Parts 1, 2, 3, 5 and 8 of the Act, which relate to the administration of the service and the registration of births, stillbirths and deaths, were commenced on 5 December 2005. The new provisions for marriage are set out in Part 6 of the 2004 Act and include universal procedures for notification, solemnisation and registration of marriages, as well as a choice of venue for civil marriage ceremonies. Before the provisions can be commenced, a substantial body of work needs to be completed, including drafting and publication of regulations, guidelines and detailed procedures; establishment of a register of solemnisers in consultation with religious bodies; establishment of a register of approved venues for civil marriages; and the further development of the computer system to facilitate the administration of the new marriage provisions introduced in the Act: Work in all these areas is underway and is progressing well.

In view of the number of complex tasks involved in preparing for the commencement of the marriage provisions, it is not possible to be definitive as regards a date for signing commencement orders, but it is unlikely to be before mid-2007. I would like to assure the Deputy that a comprehensive public information campaign will be undertaken at the appropriate time.

The Deputy's query on the facilities provided for civil marriages in registry offices relates to the management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, my Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have this matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

I am aware that there has been a significant increase in the number of civil marriages in recent years. For instance, the number of civil marriages countrywide in 1996 was 928; by 2002, this figure was 3,683, an increase of almost 396%. By way of contrast, the corresponding increase in all marriages, civil and religious, for the same period, was 21%. I am also conscious of the likelihood of a considerable and continuing increase in demand for civil marriage ceremonies.