Alan Shatter
Ceist:10 Mr. Shatter asked the Taoiseach whether the Government propose to avail of the presidential election poll taking place next autumn to propose any constitutional reforms.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Constitutional Amendments.
The Government have no proposals at present to amend the Constitution.
Is the Taoiseach aware that in the context of the crisis in the legal aid scheme a spokesperson for the Progressive Democrats indicated that the Government plan to establish family courts to streamline court procedures in dealing with marital and other family problems? In that context, does the Taoiseach intend to bring forward an amendment to the Constitution to provide for the establishment of family courts?
So far as I am aware, the establishment of any court of that kind would not require any alteration of the Constitution.
Do the Government intend during the course of the first part of this year to bring forward legislation to provide for the establishment of such courts?
That is not the question the Deputy asked. The Deputy's question refers to proposals to amend the Constitution. I have given him an answer to that.
The Taoiseach has no plans.