Aidan Farrelly (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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644. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the steps that must be taken and the documentary evidence that must be provided, by a couple giving notification to marry to the Civil Registration Services, where that notification is of a timeframe shorter than the standard three months due to the medically affirmed likelihood of a greatly shortened lifespan of one of the couple; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39112/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Persons wishing to marry in the State must serve three months notification of intention to marry to a registrar who is an employee of the Civil Registration Service which operates under the aegis of the HSE.

The serving of notice of intention to marry is an operational matter for the HSE.

Provision is made in the Civil Registration Act 2004 for such unfortunate scenarios whereby persons wishing to marry may have limited life expectancy.

Under Section 47 of that Act a couple may apply to the Circuit Family Court or the High Court for an order exempting them from the 3 months notification period. The following applies in relation to such an application:

• It may be made informally,
• It may be heard and determined otherwise than in public,
• a court fee shall not be charged in respect of it, and
• it shall not be granted unless the applicants show that its grant is justified by serious reasons and is in their interests.