Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal West, Sinn Fein)
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1425. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if he will advise of the difference between a solemniser and a celebrant for the purpose of officiating at weddings and other services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19582/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Section 51 of the Civil Registration Act 2004 sets out a number of substantive requirements for a marriage to be recognised in the State. One of these requirements is that a marriage must be solemnised by a registered solemniser.

To be a registered solemniser in the State a person must be nominated for registration in the Register of Solemnisers. A solemniser must be either, a registrar employed by the Health Service Executive (for civil marriages) or be a member of a religious or a secular body in Ireland and nominated by them.

Each religious and secular body has a registered nominator who is responsible for ensuring the details held in the Register of Solemnisers is accurately recorded by the General Registers Office.

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

Additionally, various ceremonies may take place, including at wedding and funerals, which may be considered as celebrancy, but these have no legal effect and the GRO has no role in relation to them.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal West, Sinn Fein)
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1426. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if he will outline the difference between a solemniser and a celebrant for the purpose of civil ceremonies; if both have to be registered in order to perform a ceremony; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19583/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Section 51 of the Civil Registration Act 2004 sets out a number of substantive requirements for a marriage to be recognised in the State. One of these requirements is that a marriage must be solemnised by a registered solemniser.

A solemniser must be either, a registrar employed by the Health Service Executive (for civil marriages) or be a member of a religious or a secular body in Ireland and nominated by them. To be a registered solemniser in the State a person must be nominated for registration in the Register of Solemnisers. Each religious and secular body has a registered nominator who is responsible for ensuring the details held in the Register of Solemnisers is accurately recorded by the General Registers Office.

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

Various ceremonies may take place, which may be celebrated by celebrants, however these have no legal effect and the GRO has no role in relation to them.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.