I am very happy the Minister has gone along with this amendment, as there has been a great deal of discussion in the House on the issues involved.
When does the Minister propose to establish this register? He has just told us he does not intend to do so in the very near future, which will be a great disappointment to those involved in the various organisations concerned, a number of whom will have already prepared lists of counsellors and authenticated those they include in their register. It is important that everybody should know precisely who is registered because, when the provisions of the Family Law (Divorce) Bill, 1996, are implemented early in the new year, a substantial number of applications will be submitted. It is crucial that all such applicants receive good advice, are well counselled and know precisely who is qualified to do so in advance of the anticipated considerably increased demand.
In the context of the referendum on divorce, the Opposition clearly understood it was the Government's intention to apply extra resources and undertake every effort to ensure that people are well advised and that professional mediation and counselling are available so that everybody knows precisely where to find such expanded services to cater for the anticipated sizeable increase in demand for them in the very early stages.
I recommend that the Minister compiles such a register of professional organisations as soon as possible. In the event of the Minister having a limited number of professional people and organisations available for this purpose, let that fact be known, let us be open in that respect. If the numbers of professionally qualified people are inadequate, let the public know and then identify the precise problem.
From what the Minister said, it appears he is of the opinion there is room for much development in that area, with which I agree. Nonetheless it is important to state clearly the numbers of qualified people available and their professional standard.
I am not suggesting that many of those who offer advice through ACCORD, which has been improving the quality and standard of its services, especially in recent years as it has been allocated additional resources, are not professionally qualified. That organisation has established training courses for its members and done everything one would expect of it. Presumably they will have staff who might be described as paramedics, who are not fully qualified counsellors, who would work under the supervision of counsellors within a system controlled and managed professionally to ensure a consistently high standard.
We must be concerned about the standard of counselling and mediation made available because, when a marriage breaks down and the future of the spouses and children concerned is being considered, the issues involved can be very complex, profound and have a long-term influence on partners and the lives of their children. There is much evidence to support the contention that the more that can be done to facilitate an amicable separation and settlement the better. It has been adequately documented that the more amicable the parents' separation, the better it is for the children in the long-term, that the fewer the adverse effects the fewer will be the children's difficulties in later life. We must also bear in mind the long period often involved in reaching such a settlement, also affecting children, one of our greatest concerns.
Since we last debated these issues such sentiments have been expressed ever more frequently, for the obvious reason that very soon there will be a much increased demand when people will want reassurance that such professional services will be readily available. Before the referendum the Government and Opposition gave a strong commitment that they would not set aside this matter when the referendum was over and say, "the Minister for Equality and Law Reform has been given £900,000 and good luck to him". That is not the way to deal with the matter. The necessary resources must be provided if we are to avoid considerable difficulties down the road. The pay back to the State will be worthwhile as we are building foundations, so to speak, for families in the future.
I cannot overemphasise the importance of professional counselling services. I accept that professionals may employ people to assist them in their work but the value of professional advice cannot be undervalued. I congratulate the Minister on accepting the amendment and urge him to set up the register as soon as possible. Given the solemn undertakings and commitments by parties on both sides of the House prior to the referendum, a lack of resources should not be given as a reason for the failure to set up the register as soon as possible.
