The Law Society is among those appearing before the Dáil Select Committee on Justice and Equality on Wednesday morning to speak on reform of the family law system.
The Family Law Committee will be presenting its proposals for reform of the system.
Obligations on court system
Since the Family Law Committee’s 2014 submission, increased obligations have been placed on the court system in respect of the voice of the child and mediation, following changes in the law.
The introduction of the Child and Family Relationships Act 2015 has put an increased burden on an already overworked District Family Court system by making it necessary to hear the voice of the child in all proceedings involving custody and access.
Specialist division
Chair of the committee Keith Walsh said this morning “A specialist division of family law courts and judges would assist greatly in dealing with family law cases more efficiently as it would be likely that the same judges would be available to deal with cases which appear regularly before the courts.
“A greater degree of consistency could be established.
Underfunded
“The Legal Aid Board appears chronically underfunded and it is not economically possible for solicitors to make a living from the private practitioner scheme which has led to a flight of solicitors from the District Family Court where it operates,” he continued.
Keith Walsh (pictured) will appear on Wednesday at Leinster House (pictured) together with Family Law Committee colleagues.
Also appearing before the committee at ten am on Wednesday are the Rape Crisis Network Ireland, the Children’s Rights Alliance and Dr Conor O’Mahony.
Earlier the same morning the committee will also hear from Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan on the topic of the Criminal Law (Extraterritorial Jurisdiction) Bill 2018.
This bill extends Irish criminal law outside the State and gives effect to certain provisions of the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women.
It amends the Criminal Justice (Mutual Assistance) Act 2008.