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Corporate Services -Approved Panel Minutes - 22 January 2018

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Corporate Services Scrutiny Panel

Record of Meeting

Date:  22nd January 2018  

 

Present

Deputy J.A.N. Le Fondré, Chairman Deputy S.M. Brée, Vice-Chairman Senator S.C. Ferguson

Deputy K.C. Lewis

Apologies

 

In attendance

Mr T. Leveridge, Scrutiny Officer

Mr S. Spottiswoode, Scrutiny Officer

 

Ref Back

Agenda matter

Action

Item 8 15/01/18

1.  Draft Marriage and Civil Status (Jersey) Law

The Panel noted a representation received from Deputy L..M. Doublet regarding a possible amendment to the Draft Marriage and Civil Status Law. The Panel agreed that in light of the timescales involved, it would not be possible for it to bring forward the amendment.

The Panel agreed to inform Deputy Doublet that it would not be able to bring forward the amendment, however was minded to support the amendment if lodged by the Deputy in her own name.

The Panel discussed at some length its amendment to the Draft Law to introduce a "Tolerance Clause". It was noted that the Tolerance Clause would provide exemptions from participating in same-sex marriages to owners of religious buildings as well as individuals who objected on the grounds of religious conviction.

It was considered that it would be helpful for the States Assembly to be able vote on the two elements of the Tolerance Clause separately. The Panel noted that the most straightforward way of enabling separate votes on  the  matter  would  be  for  it  to  lodge  an  amendment  to  its  own amendment.

The Panel agreed to proceed with an amendment to its amendment and asked the Officers to prepare the necessary law drafting instructions. It was noted that the lodging deadline for the amendment was the following day and that it would not be possible to finalise the amendment in time. It would therefore be necessary for the Panel to ask the States Assembly to agree to reduce the lodging period for the amendment.

Deputy S.M. Brée asked for it to be recorded that he supported the part of the Tolerance Clause relating to religious buildings but would not be supporting the part relating to individuals who object on the grounds of religious conviction.

SS

SS

 

 

The Panel considered its draft report and requested changes to be made. It  was  noted  that  an  updated  version  of  the draft report  would  be circulated to the Panel for review.

TL