Written answers
Tuesday, 9 June 2020
Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection
Civil Marriages
Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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630. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will consider amending the Covid-19 guidelines to permit small civil marriages on and after 8 June 2020 with restricted attendance of up to ten persons only including the persons getting married under the strict condition of social distancing and with the agreement of the registrar and celebrant in view of the fact up to ten persons are being permitted to attend a funeral while observing social distancing. [9865/20]
Denise Mitchell (Dublin Bay North, Sinn Fein)
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633. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when persons that wish to get married and have civil ceremonies in registry offices will be able to do so; and if there are planned measures to be introduced to ensure these offices can be opened in the coming weeks. [10269/20]
Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats)
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634. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will allow civil ceremonies to reassume in circumstances in which physical distancing allows; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that teleconferencing is used for civil ceremonies in other countries; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10376/20]
Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 630, 633 and 634 together.
Due to current restrictions to support public health initiatives, access to the Civil Registration Service offices is greatly restricted and civil marriage ceremonies cannot proceed, other than in exceptional circumstances such as those involving the risk of death to one of the parties to a marriage.
The Health Service Executive (HSE) is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Civil Registration Service. The General Register Office, which falls under the aegis of my Department, is liaising with the HSE to put plans in place for the resumption of services, including the provision of civil marriage ceremonies in line with the Government's roadmap.
I understand that provisional plans involve the re-opening of local Civil Registration Offices from 29th June to facilitate the completion of the legal preliminaries for marriage. A further extension of services to conduct civil ceremonies from 20th July is also planned. This is subject to strict adherence to social distancing recommendations and each registration area will introduce safeguards, depending on each office's specific needs.
With regard to marriages taking place by teleconference, the Deputy should note that this would require changes to legislation. Currently, all parties to the marriage are required to be in attendance in the presence of the registered solemniser, who are each then required to sign the necessary paperwork immediately after the ceremony.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
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