Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal West, Sinn Fein)
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572. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if he is aware that persons wishing to become funeral/wedding celebrants who hold a Master's in chaplaincy are required to undertake a course at considerable expense to be entitled to become a celebrant; if he will examine an exemption from this for holders of relevant qualifications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7566/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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In order to legally solemnise a marriage in the State a person must be nominated for registration in the Register of Solemnisers.

The General Registers Office (GRO) maintains the Register of Solemnisers. To be so registered a person wishing to become a solemniser must be either, a registrar employed by the Health Service Executive, or be a member of a religious or a secular body in Ireland and be nominated by that body.

Each religious and secular body has a registered nominator who is responsible for ensuring that the details held in the Register of Solemnisers are accurately recorded by the GRO. The registered nominator is responsible for ensuring their members included in the register are fully trained on the legal requirements to the solemnisation of marriages as provided for in the Civil Registration Act 2004.

There are no legislative provisions for a funeral to be solemnised and the GRO has no function in relation to funerals. Additionally, various ceremonies may take place at events, including funerals, which may be considered as celebrancy, but these have no legal effect and the GRO has no role in relation to them.

There are no other requirements for persons to become registered in the Register of Solemnisers.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.