20 April 2026
SDLP Leader of the Opposition Matthew O’Toole MLA has questioned the failure to include provision for no fault divorces in the Marriage and Civil Partnership Bill.
The legislation is having its Second Stage at Stormont on Monday.
Former Finance Minister Caoimhe Archibald said she would examine the issue and it was consulted on by current Minister John O’Dowd.
South Belfast MLA Matthew O’Toole said:
“The omission of no vault divorce from this legislation is a missed opportunity to modernise our outdated marriage laws and bring us in line with other parts of these islands.
“Sinn Féin had previously expressed their support for this policy and I would ask the Finance Minister to outline why it has not been included. There are plenty of important measures in this bill, but the inclusion of no fault divorces would strengthen it significantly.
“As well as other practical benefits, no fault divorce is widely seen as a means of tackling abuse by making it easier for women to leave abusive marriages. Given the stated Executive ambition to tackle violence against women and girls this is one route that could have made a real difference and should have been taken into consideration when bringing forward this legislation.”