Vol. 486 No. 1
783 Mr. Spring asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will provide a detailed report of the current position of proposals to extend the Brussels Convention to Family Law; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1788/98]
The Convention to which the Deputy refers is the draft Convention on Jurisdiction, Recognition and Enforcement of Judgments in Matrimonial Matters. The scope of the convention is concerned with civil proceedings relating to divorce, legal separation and the annulment of marriage and to civil proceedings relating to parental responsibility, for example custody, which arise in that context. At the core of the draft convention are rules of direct jurisdiction which will determine which court is competent to rule on these matters within the European Union. The draft convention also contains provisions designed to ensure that decisions falling within the scope of the convention will be entitled to recognition and enforcement throughout the Union.
A broad measure of political agreement was reached on the draft convention at the meeting of the Justice and Home Affairs Council which took place on 4 and 5 December 1997. While some technical work remains to be done on the convention, the aim is that it will be signed by all member states towards the latter end of the United Kingdom Presidency.
