Court Procedures

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 October 2011

Tuesday, 25 October 2011

Questions (376)

Clare Daly

Question:

396 Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the status of the review of the in camera rule as indicated in the national report to the recent Universal Periodic Review in which he stated his intentions to review this issue further with a view to ensuring that information on cases and outcomes is made public on a systematic basis; and the steps he will take to overcome the unintended effect that there is little transparency or public awareness of what is happening in the family law system. [30825/11]

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality (Deputy Alan Shatter)

Further to the commitment in the Programme for Government to modernise and reform aspects of family law, I have asked officials in my Department to review the operation of the in camera rule. I am aware that, as facilitated by provisions in the Civil Liability and Courts Act 2004 on the reporting of family law cases, the Family Law Reporting Project carried out between 2007 and 2009 provided a useful insight to family law and its operation in the courts for the public in general. However, the cost of maintaining the project in the longer term means that it was not sustainable in the light of prevailing economic conditions. My Department’s review will be considering what further provision can and should be put in place.