A Department of Justice public consultation has been launched on the issue of parental alienation in order to establish a deeper understanding of the concept.

Parental alienation is being cited more frequently in Irish courts, but there are varying jurisdictional approaches to the concept, and no reliable statistics on its prevalence in Ireland.

Parental alienation refers to a process through which a child becomes estranged from a parent as the result of the psychological manipulation of the other parent.

It may also refer to situations where one parent is wrongfully wielding influence to turn a child against the other parent.

‘Serious issue’

“This is a serious issue and an important consultation that will inform the department’s consideration of policy and law in this area,” said justice minister Helen McEntee. 

The Department of Justice wants to canvas views on parental alienation, to sit alongside research that it carried out on the issue in 2021.

In particular, the department is seeking:

• Views of and/or experiences of parental alienation,
• Its impact, and
• How it might be responded to in the future.

Accounts of all types of experiences are sought; however, details of private family-court proceedings may not be included in any submissions.

Submissions will inform consideration of policy and law in this area.

Submissions should be made electronically, by email, to parentalalienation@justice.ie by 24 June. 

Submissions may be published in the future, and will fall under the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2014.

Solicitors, barristers, and journalists may attend family-law cases and publish reports, but no names, addresses or any other details that might identify the parties can be used.

“We know that parental alienation generally refers to a process through which a child becomes estranged from a parent as the result of the psychological manipulation of the other parent.

“It may also refer to situations where one parent is wrongfully influencing their child or children against the other parent.

“This is a serious issue and an important consultation that will inform the department’s consideration of policy and law in this area.”