Online service set to shorten`couples’ walk to the altar

ONLINE dating will take on a whole new meaning under state-of-the-art facilities for registering marriages, which were unveiled by Social and Family Affairs Minister Mary Coughlan yesterday.

Playing the part of bridesmaid to the new procedures, the minster launched the service with aplomb during a colourful 'wedding' ceremony involving two of her own staff members held outside the department's offices in Dublin.

Cheered on by the rest of her staff, Ms Coughlan caught the wedding bouquet while declaring the new system of civil registrations would be friendly and faithful to customers' needs.