New marriage provision perfectly sound, days AG

THE Attorney General has confirmed that the new marriage arrangements set out in the Family Law Act, 1995, are "perfectly sound Mr Dermot Gleeson was responding to Mr Alan Shatter's claim that the 6,000 marriages due to take place in the months of August, September and October could be at risk of being declared null and void because of an alleged anomaly in the Act. Mr Shatter had moved a private members' Bill in the Dail on Thursday to rectify the situation.

The Minister for Equality and Law Reform, Mr Taylor, said last night there was no need for any new legislation on the subject.

Mr Gleeson had now confirmed that Mr Shatter's Bill was not necessary and existing provisions were perfectly in order, the Minister said.

The Attorney General had pointed out that the terms of the Interpretation Act, 1937, were designed to facilitate the operation of legislation before the official commencement date, he added.