John Bruton
Question:201 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Equality and Law Reform the proposals, if any, he has to introduce better enforcement procedures in regard to maintenance orders for separated spouses and children.
Written Answers. - Maintenance Orders.
I would draw the Deputy's attention to the debate in the Dáil of 26 March 1993 on the White Paper on Marital Breakdown when I set out the legislative measures I propose to take to bring about improvements in existing maintenance procedures. Specific proposals in this area will be brought before the House in the normal way.
John Bruton
Question:202 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Equality and Law Reform the proposals, if any, he has to improve the possibility of obtaining maintenance orders against natural parents of children who may have cohabited with, but not have been married to, the parent that is looking after the child.
I assume that what the Deputy is referring to is the possibility of one parent, who is looking after a child, obtaining maintenance from the other parent in a situation where both parents were in a non-marital relationship.
The Status of Children Act, 1987, removed discrimination in the law as between children born within and outside marriage. Since the coming into effect of that Act procedures for obtaining maintenance are similar in the case of a child of unmarried parents to those of a child of a family and either parent may seek maintenance from the other at any time while the child is a dependant. There are no proposals at present to amend the law in this area.