Divorce…Irish style

 

I’ve got to admit to great sympathy for the following:

A private members’ Bill will be brought to the the Dáil next week by Fine Gael TD Josepha Madigan and is likely to be debated in the autumn.

The Bill has the blessing of both the Taoiseach and Minister for Justice, according to Ms Madigan.

Basically the referendum in 1996 saw a four year period of separation necessary to have  divorce granted. Many of us would consider that four year period grossly unfair. I know from people who have been through the process just how intrusive it is, how it puts their lives on hold for a prolonged period. If it were up to me I’d knock it down to six months or a year.

Madigan is looking at two years which I still think inadequate.

Anyhow, all this would have to go to a referendum.

If the Bill passes, a constitutional referendum would then be necessary to reduce the waiting time for a divorce.

A 1996 amendment which deleted the long-standing constitutional ban on divorce replaced it with detailed restrictions on when divorce could be available to estranged couples.

If it comes to this it will be interesting to see who contests the proposal (for being too liberal).