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Married couples are set to face a reduced separation period of two years before they can divorce in Ireland.<\/p>\nMarried couples are set to face a reduced separation period of two years before they can divorce in Ireland.<\/p>\n
It follows a landslide referendum vote to liberalize the nation\u2019s divorce laws.<\/p>\n
An 82% Yes vote was confirmed in the early hours of this morning at Dublin Castle.<\/p>\n
Just 17% of the 1.7 million people who voted opted for No.<\/p>\n
Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan is now set to bring forward a Bill to amend Section 5 of the Family Law (Divorce) Act 1996 to reduce the minimum living apart period to two years during the previous three years.<\/p>\n
However, he said \u201ccore protections for marriage\u201d will remain in the constitution.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Government wants to ensure that the process for obtaining a divorce is fair, dignified and humane, and allows both parties to move forward with their lives within a reasonable time frame,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is therefore my intention to reduce the living apart period to a minimum of two out of the preceding three years and to do so by way of ordinary legislation, which I will bring forward as soon as possible.\u201d<\/p>\n
Couples currently have to prove to a court that they have been separated for a long period \u2013 four of the previous five years \u2013 before they can secure a divorce.<\/p>\n
Voters were asked to amend the state\u2019s constitution to hand politicians the power to set the length of the \u201cpause period\u201d.<\/p>\n
Couples can currently secure a judicial separation in a shorter time frame, but they must then proceed to a second legal stage to obtain a formal court-approved divorce.<\/p>\n
Those advocating a No vote had warned against the prospect of \u201cquickie divorces\u201d, expressing concern about giving politicians a free hand to potentially reduce the waiting time even further in the future.<\/p>\n
A second element of the referendum focused on foreign divorces.<\/p>\n
The Yes vote is set to make it easier for those divorces to be recognized in Ireland.<\/p>\n
Josepha Madigan, Culture Minister and advocate of the liberalization of the nation\u2019s divorce laws, thanked those who voted in the referendum.<\/p>\n
In 2016 Ms Madigan moved a Private Member\u2019s Bill that proposed a liberalization of the law, which led to the referendum.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it\u2019s an emphatic, unequivocal result, and, even though we have a very low marital breakdown in Ireland, it just demonstrates the amount of people who stand in solidarity with them,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a real groundswell of support and compassion for all those people suffering from marital breakdown and I really want to thank the Irish people for coming out and supporting them.\u201d<\/p>\n