The Divorce Bill cleared its final stages through the Oireachtas yesterday. The Dail adopted over 30 amendments, mainly technical, from the Seanad.

The Minister for Equality and Law Reform, Mr Taylor, said it was a historic occasion in the evolution of Irish family law. "Irish society cherishes the family and no one salutes the introduction of divorce," he said. The referendum was, however, an attempt to address "the painful problem of marriage breakdown.