John Bruton
Question:153 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the Government’s policy in regard to the promotion and definition of marriage. [18206/04]
View answerThursday, 17 June 2004
Questions (152)
Written answers
Government policy is designed to ensure that the State meets its constitutional obligations to the institution of marriage. Social, economic, demographic and other changes are having an impact on families and on the institution of marriage and policy has to be developed and adapted having regard to these changes.
The Commission on the Family, which reported in 1998, made a number of recommendations on support for marriage. These included support for and further development of counselling and family mediation services. The Family Support Agency, which I established in May 2003, represents one of the main responses to these recommendations in the commission's report. It draws together the main family related programmes and services developed by the Government since 1997. Specifically, out of the Family Support Agency's total budget of over €20 million, I have made available €7.16 million for the scheme of grants to voluntary organisations providing marriage preparation courses, marriage and relationship counselling and other family supports. This year over 500 voluntary groups nationwide will receive financial support for the provision of these services to strengthen and support families throughout the country. The remainder of the agency's budget provides for a nationwide family mediation service, information on parenting, and support for the promotion and development of family and community services.
I have been conscious that the profound rapid changes taking place in society may be leading to outcomes in terms of family life that many may not desire either for themselves or others. I am conscious also that State policies and programmes may not be contributing as effectively as they might to strengthening families at this time of change. It was for those reasons that I embarked last year on a nationwide consultation process on families and family life. A report on this consultation process entitled Families and Family Life in Ireland: Challenges for the Future has been published.
Last month, to mark the 10th anniversary of the UN International Year of the Family, the Irish Presidency, with the support of the EU Commission, hosted a major international conference on families, change and social policy in Europe. Ireland has also directly participated in a major OECD international study on reconciling work and family life.
The outcome of these developments is being fully taken into account in the preparation of a strategy on supports for families, which I intend to have completed and issued before the end of this 10th anniversary year. The role of the State in meeting its constitutional obligations to "guard with special care the institution of marriage" at this time of profound change will be one of the issues to be addressed in the strategy.