The Health Service Executive has denied claims that couples hoping to marry in the Greater Dublin area this summer could be hit by its current recruitment freeze.
The Impact union said civil marriages in Dublin, Kildare and Wicklow could fall victim to the employment embargo because management has failed to hire enough registrars needed to officiate at ceremonies in hotels and other locations.
New legislation introduced last year allowed "off-site" civil marriages in venues such as hotels.
Impact claims the introduction of off-site wedding services in the East region has already been postponed to July 1st to enable the recruitment of extra staff.
The number of civil marriages across the state increased by over 500 per cent between 1996 and 2006 and civil registrations will account for half of all marriages by 2012 if current trends continue.
But Impact claims staff numbers fell from 194 to 168 full-time equivalents — or by over 13 per cent — between 2003 and 2008.
"No recruitment has happened," said Impact official Stephen O'Neill, "and a staff shortfall of almost 15 per cent means staff may have to prioritise on-site weddings to minimise the numbers of disappointed brides and grooms."
Off-site civil marriages in Dublin, Kildare and Wicklow represent a significant extra demand on staff time due to time spent in traffic getting to and from a wedding venue.
Mr O'Neill said the staff involved were not seeking more money, promotions or any improvement in their terms and working conditions. "We are simply saying that planned services are in jeopardy unless the agreed and necessary numbers of staff are in place," he said.
The HSE refuted the claims, saying managers had agreed with Impact that a staffing level of 58.5 would be reached by July 2008, with the remaining five posts being phased in throughout the rest of the year.
"A staffing level of 55.5 had been achieved by May 30, 2008 and the HSE is satisfied that arrangements are in train to achieve the agreed interim target of 58.5 in the coming weeks," a spokesman said.
He added: "Senior management within the HSE are working with local management so that the overall agreed target of 63.5 is achieved by year end.
"On this basis we are confident that we can meet all our commitments to the public, staff and unions. There are no plans to cancel or defer scheduled appointments."
PA