Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 749: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if the proposal in the Civil Partnership Bill 2009 to fine and jail registrars who object to civil partnerships is incompatible with the principles of religious freedom; if the Bill protects registrars' right of conscience; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34531/09]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The Civil Registration Act 2004 provides that it is an offence for a registrar to fail or refuse, without reasonable cause, to register a birth, stillbirth, marriage or death. It is also an offence under that Act to fail or refuse, without reasonable cause, to issue a marriage registration form to one of the parties to an intended marriage, or to purport to solemnise or to be a party to a marriage in respect of which the appropriate notice and advance formalities have not been completed. The Civil Partnership Bill amends the 2004 Act to replicate these provisions where appropriate with respect to civil partnership registration. The Bill does not contain a "right of conscience" provision for registrars.