Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 493: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if a person (details supplied) in Dublin 3 will be assisted. [23437/08]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The person to whom the Deputy is referring has applied to my Department for a Certificat de Coutume — a document indicating that she is free to marry as a matter of Irish law. These certificates are not required by Irish law, but are required by the authorities in certain other countries. Certificates are issued as a service to Irish citizens wishing to marry in those countries, where the citizen can show that he or she is in fact free to marry as a matter of Irish law.

The person to whom the Deputy is referring has applied for a Certificat de Coutume. However, on the basis of the information supplied by her to date, it is not clear that she is in fact free to marry and so it is not possible to issue her with a certificate at this time. However, my Department has advised her of a number of possibilities whereby she might demonstrate her freedom to marry and will issue her with a Certificat de Coutume as a matter of urgency should the necessary proofs be produced.