Attendees at the fully booked conference heard from Irish and international judges and family law experts who shared their experiences and perspectives, as well as a discussion of the Law Society’s recent submission on Family Courts reform:

• View the Law Society’s submission on family courts reform

While the Law Society has welcomed this long-awaited legislation, we believe many improvements are needed to ensure that the necessary infrastructure and appropriate resources are in place to support the new family court system and that the voice of the child is heard in cases concerning their interests and welfare.

The Law Society’s July 2023 submission outlines detailed family court reform priorities to ensure that the implementation of this legislation provides access to justice for families and children in Ireland, including the development of specialist family courts and learnings from international best practice.

The conference and submission received widespread national and local media coverage, which highlighted the Law Society’s concerns with the Bill in its current form and recommendations as discussed at the conference:

Media coverage

• Newstalk, 12 July 2023: Keith Walsh SC, member and former Chair of the Family & Child Law Committee on the Pat Kenny Show

• Irish Times, 14 July 2023: State’s commitment to protect families will not be ‘diluted’, says Attorney General

• Irish Independent, 14 July 2023: Child protection expert challenges Government to back up family courts reform plans

• Irish Legal News, 14 July 2023: Peter Doyle, Chair of the Family & Child Law Committee: The Family Courts Bill

• Midwest Radio, 14 July 2023: Michele O'Boyle SC, member of the Family & Child Law Committee

• RTÉ, 16 July 2023: Helen Coughlan, member and former Chair of the Family & Child Law Committee on This Week

Current status

The Bill is currently at the Second Stage before the Seanad and available at the link below:

• View the Family Courts Bill 2022 and its current status