Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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Question 102: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of marriages conducted at foreign embassies in Dublin which are not recognised by Irish law; the representations he has received from foreign missions accredited to Ireland regarding same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13325/10]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Marriages performed by Embassies in Ireland have never been recognised in Irish law although they may of course be recognised in the laws of the states whose Embassies perform them. In international law a marriage performed at an Embassy will only be internationally recognised if it is in the country in which it is performed. It is for this reason that a state proposing to perform marriages at its Embassies abroad should ideally consult with the relevant local authorities in advance in order to establish whether these marriages will be recognised in all states or only in the state whose Embassy performs the marriage. As Irish law does not recognise or regulate Embassy marriages we have no statistics as to how many have been performed here.

When the matter recently came to my Department's attention that a number of Embassies have been performing marriages, we contacted the Registrar General and the Department of Social and Family Affairs and advised all Embassies of the requirements of the law governing marriages in Ireland.

Representations were subsequently made by a number of Embassies and their concerns have been forwarded to the Registrar General. The matter is currently being reviewed by the Department of Social and Family Affairs and my Department to consider what if any assistance can be provided to couples that have encountered practical difficulties arising from the non-recognition by Irish law of marriages performed at Embassies here.

I understand that Embassies have now ceased to perform marriages.

Irish law does not authorise the performance of marriages at Irish Embassies abroad by Irish diplomatic and consular officers.