Vol. 498 No. 1
332 Mr. Neville asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will introduce a speedy process to deal with situations where access orders to children by the non-custodial parent are being breached in situations of marital and relationship breakdown to ensure that children's rights to have access to both parents are implemented. [26658/98]
Breaches of access orders made by the District Court constitute an offence and on conviction the person is liable to a fine or imprisonment or to both. Breach of such orders made by the Circuit and High Courts constitutes contempt of court and the person may be the subject of committal proceedings. The law already provides for expedition of cases. The Deputy will appreciate that any expedition of the proceedings must be consistent with the administration of justice.
Where an access order is not operating satisfactorily it is, of course, open to one or both parties to seek variation of the order and in such cases the courts may also allow expedition of the proceedings, consistent with the administration of justice.
