Minister to crack down on sham marriages

A crackdown on sham marriages will help cut the number of women trafficked into Ireland for the ceremonies, Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald has insisted.

Rules introduced this week mean registrars will have the power to investigate a couple before agreeing to conduct a ceremony, and refuse if they have suspicions.

Registrars will be able to quiz couples on how familiar they are with each other’s personal details, as depicted in the 1991 Hollywood film Green Card, and then form a judgment on the basis of how the individuals answered.