asked the Minister for Justice if he is prepared to increase the maintenance allowances for deserted wives.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Allowances for Deserted Wives.
36.
I am having legislation prepared at present in relation to maintenance orders. It will provide for increasing the maximum rate of allowance which the District Court may order a husband who has deserted his wife to pay her towards her maintenance. It will also deal with the reciprocal enforcement of maintenance orders as between this country and Britain and Northern Ireland.
Consultations are proceeding with the British and Northern authorities on the latter aspect. I hope to be in a position to introduce the legislation before the end of the year.
Would the Minister consider increasing not only the nominal amount of the payments but also make provision that the amount to be paid by the husband would be a certain percentage of his earnings, whichever might be the greater, because the fixing of an arbitrary figure may result in the payment by the husband of less than one-third of his earnings in respect of the maintenance of his wife and several children while he can have a good time on the remainder?
I shall consider that inter alia.