asked the Minister for Justice when he intends to introduce a comprehensive code of family law; and if he will give the broad outlines of this code.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Family Law Code.
49.
(Cavan): I intend to deal with the reform of family law in separate legislative measures rather than to delay reform by attempting to draft a comprehensive code. I propose to introduce before the summer recess legislation concerning family maintenance and other related matters, including attachment of earnings and exclusion from the home of violent spouses. Shortly thereafter, I hope to have legislation to protect the matrimonial home against vindictive sales.
To deal with all the problems of family law in one comprehensive code would mean delaying urgent reforms for a number of years.
Would the Minister accept that there is widespread disappointment, indeed angry disappointment, among the organisations concerned in this field with the absolute failure of the Minister to produce any single positive step in this whole area?
(Cavan): I am aware that since the Minister assumed office he has devoted a great amount of attention to this field and so have his officials and the legislation that I have mentioned in reply to the question is in an advanced stage of preparation and as I have stated on behalf of the Minister, we hope to introduce some of it before the recess.
Is the Minister aware that I myself was present some months ago at a function at which the Minister for Justice indicated that that weekend he had finished, as he put it, "dotting the i's and crossing the t's" of a relevant piece of legislation which we still have not seen and that there is, as I said, widespread anger among the people involved in these areas who are pressing for these reforms, who keep on being assured by the Minister that he is going to do them, and in fact he has done nothing?
(Cavan): I have no information about the function referred to by the Deputy. I know the Deputy appreciates that this is a very delicate line of country and that it needs great consideration. Even when it comes to the dotting of the i's and the crossing of the t's another look might be prompted in the course of that operation.