‘Quickie’ divorces will not become the norm in Ireland if voters remove the waiting period for separating couples from the Constitution, the Government’s referendum campaign director has said. Culture Minister Josepha Madigan insists that TDs, current and future, will instead handle divorce rules “responsibly” and that Ireland will not see separation rates shoot up to levels seen in Russia. The current four-year wait exacts an “enormous toll” on people who cannot move on with their lives, adds Ms Madigan. However, recent opinion polls suggest up to four in five voters want divorce waiting times reduced or done away with completely. Ms Madigan, who initiated the vote plans, points out that divorce rates in Ireland are on a par with those in Europe.

Source: Irish Examiner April 08, 2019 05:26 UTC