Fine Gael Culture Minister Josepha Madigan has defended the proposal to have a two-year waiting period for divorce rather than have a shorter period on the grounds that, “We don’t want people in this situation making a knee jerk reaction to the breakdown of their marriage so we felt that two years was more appropriate.”

Minister Madigan said that there has to be an equilibrium between allowing people the time to sort out their affairs, “but not punishing them unduly”.

Currently, the Constitution requires that a couple be separated for four out of the last five years before they can divorce. The Government is holding a referendum on May 24 to remove the waiting time from the Constitution completely and replace it with a two year waiting time in statute law. Future Governments will then be free to further reduce the waiting time if they wish.