Dr. Bill Holohan SC

Lobbying Organisation Dr. Bill Holohan SC

Date published 21 Apr, 2026

Relevant Matter Legislation

Public Policy Area Social Protection

Period 1 Jan. 2026 to 30 Apr. 2026

Specific Details Corresponding initially with the Minister for Justice and later with the Minister for Social Protection, suggesting possible amendment of the Civil Registration Act to facilitate solemnisation of marriages by Notaries Public in Ireland, thereby allowing the option of a purely civil, non-secular, nonreligious ceremony outside of office hours, 09:00 hours to 17:00 hours Monday to Friday.

Intended results Possible amendment of the Civil Registration Act to facilitate solemnisation of marriages by Notaries Public in Ireland, thereby allowing the option of a purely civil, non-secular, nonreligious ceremony outside of office hours, 09:00 hours to 17:00 hours Monday to Friday.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Dr. Bill Holohan SC

Did any Designated Public Official(DPO) or former Designated Public Official(DPO) carry out lobbying activities on your behalf in relation to this return? You must include yourself, and answer Yes, if you are a current DPO or a DPO at any time in the past. (What is a Designated Public Official?) No

Did you manage or direct a grassroots campaign? No

Was this lobbying done on behalf of a client? No

Lobbying activity

The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.

Email (1)

Email communication initially to the Minister for Justice and later to the Minister for Social Section, suggesting an amendment to the Civil Registration Act, to allow for members of the Faculty of Notaries Public in Ireland to apply for registration to allow for solemnisation of marriages by Notaries Public, thereby affording those who wish to have a purely civil, nonsecular a nonreligious wedding ceremony, outside of the hour zero 900 – 17:00 hours, Monday to Friday.

Designated public officials lobbied

The following DPOs were lobbied during this return period on this specific Subject Matter Area. These DPOs were involved in at least one of the Lobbying Activities listed above, but not necessarily all of them. As returns are specific to a Subject Matter Area the above Lobbying Activities may be associated with multiple returns.

Jim O'Callaghan Minister (Department of Justice)

Dara Calleary Minister (Department of Social Protection)