Debate contribution: Marriage and Civil Partnership Bill: Second Stage
Debate contribution by Miss Jemma Dolan on .
- MLA
- Miss Jemma Dolan
- Party at the time
- Sinn Féin
- Date
- 20 April 2026
- Type
- Debate contribution
- Business
- Executive Committee Business
- Heading
- Marriage and Civil Partnership Bill: Second Stage
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 5493286
Read the official Assembly record
Text
I welcome progress on the legislation. As the Minister said, it will raise the minimum age for marriage and civil partnership to 18 and make it a criminal offence for anyone to be involved in causing a child to enter into such an arrangement. That aspect of the Bill is particularly important, as it will provide a safeguard for children who are at risk of being exploited and forced into marriage, which the United Nations has consistently reported as being a violation of an individual's human rights. The other power in the Bill will provide equality for couples who wish to have a non-religious belief marriage with those who have a religious marriage. It puts on a legislative footing temporary arrangements that have been operating for several years and saw thousands of marriages conducted successfully. The legislation has equality and human rights at its core and is therefore a positive development.
151 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
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