Vol. 429 No. 7
16 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Equality and Law Reform if he supports the recommendations of the Second Commission on the Status of Women that the State should introduce an automatic enforcement programme to ensure payment of maintenance.
Under the Programme for a Partnership Government there is a commitment to a major programme of family law reform. Since the programme was published the report of the Second Commission on the Status of Women was presented to Government and it also includes a number of recommendations in this area including the enforcement of maintenance awards.
I am happy to tell the House that the Court Jurisdiction and Enforcement of Judgments Bill, 1993, which will enable Ireland to ratify two international conventions will be introduced in the Seanad tomorrow. When these conventions enter into force, Irish judgments, including maintenance orders, will become enforceable in all EC and EFTA states.
In addition, work is advanced on the Family Law Reform Bill which is along the lines of the scheme of the Family Law (No. 1) Bill contained in the White Paper on Marital Breakdown. Provision is made in the Bill empowering the courts when ordering maintenance payments to order at the same time that these be made by attachment of earnings. This will represent a significant improvement in present procedures in that in many cases it will no longer be necesssary to take separate court proceedings to seek enforcement of maintenance orders.
I have also directed that priority attention be given to the reciprocal enforcement of the maintenance Bill which will provide for significant improvement in existing arrangements for the recovery of maintenance payments within the EC.
Proposals which will give effect to further improvements in procedures for the enforcement of maintenance payments, including the question of automatic enforcement, will be carefully considered by my Department.
18 Mr. McGinley asked the Minister for Equality and Law Reform his views on the recommendation of the Second Commission on the Status of Women that financial liability should be placed on an employer who does not take reasonable steps to eliminate sexual harassment after formal notification of harassment.
21 Mr. Crawford asked the Minister for Equality and Law Reform his views on the recommendation of the Second Commission on the Status of Women that financial liability should be placed on an employer who does not take reasonable steps to eliminate sexual harassment after formal notification of harassment.
22 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Equality and Law Reform his views on the recommendation of the Second Commission on the Status of Women that financial liability should be placed on an employer who does not take reasonable steps to eliminate sexual harassment after formal notification of harassment.
38 Mr. L. Burke asked the Minister for Equality and Law Reform his views on the recommendation of the Second Commission on the Status of Women that financial liability should be placed on an employer who does not take reasonable steps to eliminate sexual harassment after formal notification of harassment.
47 Mr. Crowley asked the Minister for Equality and Law Reform his views on the recommendation of the Second Commission on the Status of Women that financial liability should be placed on an employer who does not take reasonable steps to eliminate sexual harassment after formal notification of harassment.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 18, 21, 22, 38 and 47 together.
I am satisfied that the law in relation to sexual harassment needs to be strengthened. Mindful of the Government's commitment in the Programme for a Partnership Government for improved provisions on sexual harassment, I am currently examining, in the context of the revision of employment equality legislation, the recommendation of the Second Commission on the Status of Women that liability should be placed on an employer who does not take reasonable steps to eliminate sexual harassment after formal notification of such harassment.
