Iona Institute opposes any plan to speed up divorces

The announcement by Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald that the waiting time for a couple seeking a divorce may be reduced is a further indication the Government does not take seriously its constitutional duty to guard marriage with “special care”, according to the Iona Institute.

At present the Constitution requires that a couple must be living apart for four out of the last five years before they can divorce. This was inserted into the Constitution at the time of the 1995 divorce referendum in order to discourage so-called quickie divorces which exist in other jurisdictions.

This would be the first review since divorce was legalised in 1996.