Concerns raised about delays in family law cases

A DUN Laoghaire TD has expressed concern about increasing delays in the processing of family law cases in the courts and the negative impact this is having on women and children.

Deputy Mary Mitchell O’Connor (FG) raised the issue with the Minister for Justice Alan Shatter recently.

Deputy O’Connor had been approached by a number of constituents and women’s organisations who have claimed that there was also a serious backlog in applications made by separated or divorced parents for maintenance payments for their children.

She claimed some of these people had to wait for more than a year before they received payments.

“The picture that is being painted by the people who have been in contact with me is of a system in complete disarray, with many women and children living on the edge,

? she said.

“People have told me they are waiting up to a year for dates for emergency maintenance applications, which I find completely unacceptable.

?

In addition, Deputy O’Connor said she was concerned that an increasing number of family cases were being adjourned.

“The situation for those who are faced with family law proceedings is that even when dates are given for hearings, particularly maintenance applications on behalf of women and children, they are repeatedly adjourned.

?

In response to a number of parliamentary questions submitted by Deputy O’Connor on the matter, Minister Shatter outlined the Government’s intention to hold a referendum on proposed legal reforms that would include the establishment of a new family courts structure.

“The deputy will be aware that the Government, at its meeting on July 17, approved in principle proposals for a number of major reforms to our courts structures which will, in due course, require the holding of a constitutional referendum,

? he said.

“The proposed reforms would, if approved by the people in a referendum, facilitate the establishment of a new separate family courts structure.

?

Minister Shatter added that the Courts Service had advised him that statistics were not maintained on the number of adjourned maintenance applications.

The minister also said it was the intention of the newly appointed President of the District Court to assess all backlogs and waiting times with a view to seeing how cases could be dealt with more quickly.