Irish Government Agrees to Support Non Religious Groups to Perform Civil Marriages
16 May 2012
Civil Registration (Amendment) Bill 2012: May 2012
Following the introduction of a Private Members Bill by Senator Ivana Bacik last year, the Government has now (May 2012) agreed to support legislation to allow members of non-religious groups to perform civil marriages.
The Bill seeks to introduce a third category of solemniser (celebrant) who is neither a registrar employed by the HSE or a member of a religious body. The key impact of the Bill will be to allow members of non-religious bodies, such as members of the Humanist Association of Ireland, to be entitled to perform legal civil marriages.