Solicitor Dr Geoffrey Shannon SC, of the Law Society’s Family and Child Law Committee, has said that necessary resources are key to a national family-justice system that puts children at its core.

Vulnerable citizens have already waited decades for meaningful progress to reform the family-justice system, he said today.

The Family Courts Bill 2022 will underpin the recently published Family Justice Strategy 2022-2025, Dr Shannon added.

Throughout this time, in its submissions to Government, the Law Society has repeatedly highlighted the need for reform of the family-law system so that it is fit for purpose, he said.

Due consideration

“With the bill now published, we will give due consideration to its provisions in the coming days and weeks, he commented. 

“We reiterate our previous call for the necessary resources – funding, infrastructure and technology – to be put in place, to ensure [that] the much-needed reforms outlined in the bill can become a reality. This is our opportunity to build a national family-justice system that puts children at its core.

“The Law Society commends Minister McEntee for her leadership on reform of the family-justice system and commitment to this bill,” Dr Shannon added.

“We look forward to continuing to work alongside the Department of Justice and other stakeholders to ensure access to justice for children and families in Ireland,” he concluded.