Divorce Bill is passed by Dail

THE Dail passed all stages of the Divorce Bill without a vote last night, marking another milestone in the 16-year-old Oireachtas battle to legislate for divorce.

The Bill is expected to have a similarly easy passage in the Seanad. The first applications for divorce, however, cannot be made until three months after the Bill is signed into law.

The report and final stages of the Family Law (Divorce) Bill, 1996, were uneventful, compared to the acrimony and dissension experienced before last year's divorce referendum. Two votes were called by Fianna Fail on amendments to exempt notification for marriages this year and to oblige couples to undergo counselling and mediation before a divorce can be granted. The amendments were defeated.

The Minister for Equality and Law Reform, Mr Taylor, said the Bill was faithful to the people's decision in the referendum and a major piece of legislation which gave the courts power to settle very complex matters arising from marriage breakdown.

The Fianna Fail spokesman, Dr Michael Woods, accepted that the legislation was in line with the Government's draft Bill.

The Progressive Democrats spokeswoman, Ms Helen Keogh, said the Bill's final passage marked a watershed in the development of Irish society.

The Fine Gael TD, Mr Alan Shatter, also called for the implementation of the Law Reform Commission's recommendations on family courts.