Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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144. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the reason there has been a delay in registering humanists as solemnisers for wedding ceremonies here; the reason, despite the passing of the legislation last December by all party agreement, there has only been one registration and there are some 11 other humanists awaiting registration leaving couples in limbo; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20710/13]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The General Register Office has advised me that an application has been made to the Registrar General by the Humanist Association of Ireland to register eleven solemnisers. I understand that to date one solemniser has been registered.

The General Register Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and is responsible for the registration of solemnisers.

Section 56 of the Civil Registration Act 2004, provides an appeal mechanism for the applicant in cases where the Registrar General refuses to register a person named in the application.