Sunday, February 13, 2011

Iona challenges pre-nuptial call

Pre-nuptial agreements as a norm in Irish marriages would do nothing to challenge the pain of divorce or separation, The Iona Institute has said.

Responding to a recommendation from researchers at Trinity College Dublin on the back of a new study of post-separation parenting, Iona director David Quinn said in relation to pre-nuptials, ''it would do no good, given that parties in divorce often ignore court orders and pre-nuptial agreements are not even such orders''.

Contending that pre-marriage agreements mean that a person has already ''prepared their exit'', Mr Quinn said this would then represent a tempting exit to take, further driving divorce and separation rates. 

''What this study shows,'' Mr Quinn said, ''is that divorce remains ultra-complicated and we need to examine ways to reduce what is a tragedy for families and children.''