Departmental Priorities
Dail Éireann — 2022-05-24
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Helen McEntee (FG), Meath East

I absolutely agree. Unfortunately, when it gets to a court setting, there are situations where the process has most likely become adversarial, and in many cases - although, not always - other avenues, such as mediation, have been tried. Before Covid, people would sit across from one another in tight spaces, and many of them would be waiting all day for their case to be heard. At the end of the day, the case may be adjourned. Therefore, it is really important we have specific sittings, potentially in a different building or room from other court sittings, or on different days or times from other court sittings. That will be provided for specifically in this Bill. We are also engaging with the Courts Service on the operational aspects of the intended approach to the overall family justice strategy. Separate from this legislation, which is specific to the structure of the courts, there is a family justice oversight group that is chaired by a senior official from my own Department. The group has engaged significantly not just with the legal profession, but with family representative groups. There has been special engagement with children through Tusla. We have identified not just the actual physical infrastructure, but the ancillary supports and the type of supports required, including mediation, psychological supports, or even just ensuring that family members can get a cup of tea or food when they are in the courts. All of it needs to be considered to make it as family-friendly as possible.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2022-05-24/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:50:29+00:00
Sitting date: 2022-05-24