Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 30 April 2015
126. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality her plans to insist that barristers wear civilian clothes and do not have any separate identification in the family courts, in order to make the atmosphere in family courts less intimidating; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17036/15]
View answerAs the Deputy may be aware, existing provisions under the Judicial Separation and Family Law Reform Act 1989 provide that Family Court proceedings in all courts shall be as informal as possible and that neither judges nor barristers or solicitors shall wear wigs or gowns; this applies generally to a range of child and family proceedings in the District Court. Similar provisions apply to proceedings under the Childcare Act 1991.
