Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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Part 6 of the Civil Registration Act 2004 sets out the legal requirements for a valid marriage in Ireland and these came in to effect on 5 November, 2007. One of these requirements is that a marriage can be solemnised by and only by a registered solemniser.

Section 53 of the act makes provision for the establishment and maintenance of a register of solemnisers of marriage by an t-Ard-Chláraitheoir (Registrar General).

Section 54 of the act provides that the Health Service Executive (HSE) may apply to the Registrar General to have registrars registered in the register of solemnisers for the purpose of solemnising civil marriages. This section also provides that a religious body may apply to the Registrar General to have members registered in this register for the purpose of solemnising religious marriages.

The position therefore is that applications are not invited by the Registrar General and it is a matter for the HSE and the various religious bodies to apply to have appropriate persons registered having regard to their anticipated needs for the purpose of solemnising marriages whether civil or religious.