SDLP Leader of the Opposition Matthew O'Toole has criticised the Executive's failure to include no-fault divorce provisions in the Marriage and Civil Partnership Bill, which moved to its Second Stage at Stormont today.

The South Belfast MLA argued that the omission prevents Northern Ireland's marriage laws from aligning with other jurisdictions across the UK and Ireland. He noted that while the Department of Finance under both previous and current leadership had examined or consulted on the issue, the specific policy remains absent from the current legislative push.

A primary concern raised by the Opposition is the impact on victims of domestic violence. Under current laws, parties must often prove "fault"—such as adultery or unreasonable behaviour—to secure a divorce before a lengthy separation period has passed. Advocates for no-fault divorce argue that removing this requirement makes it safer and more straightforward for individuals to exit abusive relationships. Matthew O'Toole said: "The omission of no-fault divorce from this legislation is a missed opportunity to modernise our outdated marriage laws and bring us in line with other parts of these islands. Sinn Féin had previously expressed their support for this policy and I would ask the Finance Minister to outline why it has not been included."

He continued: "As well as other practical benefits, no-fault divorce is widely seen as a means of tackling abuse by making it easier for women to leave abusive marriages. Given the stated Executive ambition to tackle violence against women and girls, this is one route that could have made a real difference and should have been taken into consideration when bringing forward this legislation."

While the Marriage and Civil Partnership Bill contains several other significant measures, the SDLP has signaled that the inclusion of no-fault provisions would have significantly strengthened the Executive's commitment to social reform and public safety.