8. In regulation 3 (marriage notice)(1)—
(a)in paragraph (2)(b), at the beginning, insert “subject to paragraph (3),”;
(b)after paragraph (2) insert—
“(3) Unless paragraph (4) applies, if a proposed marriage is referred to the Secretary of State under Article 3E of the Order (“the referred marriage”) the Registrar General may only authorise the registrar to reduce the period of 28 days notice mentioned in paragraph (2)(b) with the consent of Secretary of State.
(4) This paragraph applies if the request is made because a party to the referred marriage is gravely ill and not expected to recover.”
Regulation 3(2) is amended by S.I. 2014/296 (N.I.) with effect from 2 March 2015 increasing the required notice referred to in that regulation from at least 14 days before the intended marriage to at least 28 days.