Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 204: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if the notification fee of €150 recently announced in relation to the new regulations on marriage registration is a new cost that was not required previously from couples intending to marry; the purpose to which the money collected will be put; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29353/07]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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Section 46 of the Civil Registration Act, 2004, which was commenced on 5 November 2007, requires that couples intending to marry in the State must give a minimum of 3 months notice of intention to a registrar and that they must present in person at the office of the registrar and sign a declaration that there is no impediment to their marriage in the presence of the registrar. When they visit the office, the registrar explains the procedures and requirements for marriage to couples and, if everything is in order, a Marriage Registration Form, which must be signed by the parties, the solemniser and the witnesses following the ceremony, and is a legal requirement for a valid marriage, is issued to the couple. These procedures give the highest possible degree of assurance to couples and the registrar that everything is in order and that the marriage can proceed as intended.

Section 46 (3) of the Act provides for a fee, to be prescribed in regulations, for this service. The fee is set at €150 in the Civil Registration (Marriages) (Fees) Regulations 2007. Prior to the introduction of the new procedures, various fees for services such as entries in the Marriage Notice Book, certificates of such entries, licences for marriage, entry of caveats, solemnisation of marriages, issuing registered letters containing copies of notices and fees for registration of places of public worship were payable under the Civil Registration (Marriages) (Fees) Regulations 2005. The requirement for these services, which varied according to the religious ceremony involved and whether the ceremony was civil or religious, was abolished by the introduction of the new provisions and the fees incurred have been replaced by the notification fee, which is payable by all couples, irrespective of religious denomination or whether the ceremony is civil or religious.

Registrars are employed by the Health Service Executive and the notification fees collected will be retained by the HSE. The Civil Registration Service has been undergoing an extensive modernisation programme in recent years, at a cost of some 7 million Euro to date. Legislation dating back to the Victorian era has been thoroughly revised and replaced with the provisions of the Civil Registration Act, 2004 and registration procedures and records have been computerised, using the most up to date technology available. The notification fees will be paid to the HSE and it is anticipated that this will facilitate the delivery of an improved Civil Registration Service.