Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 30 Mar 1993

Vol. 428 No. 5

Written Answers. - Family Law Cases.

Peadar Clohessy

Ceist:

18 Mr. Clohessy asked the Minister for Justice her views on whether the handling of family law cases requires special accommodation and facilities in our courts; and, if so, the steps, if any, she will take to ensure that this accommodation and such facilities will be provided.

Desmond J. O'Malley

Ceist:

25 Mr. O'Malley asked the Minister for Justice if her attention has been drawn to the general level of dissatisfaction that exists, particularly among legal practitioners and members of the Judiciary, with the current arrangements for the hearing of family law cases, in particular the absence of adequate consultation rooms for litigants and their legal representatives, and the lack of facilities to enable families to have their affairs dealt with in privacy and with due respect for the sensitivity surrounding cases of this kind; and the action, if any, she proposes to take to remedy this situation.

Minister for Justice (Mrs. Geoghegan-Quinn)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 18 and 25 together.

Because of the special nature of family law cases it is necessary to provide facilities to enable these cases to be transacted with delicacy, in private and in confidence.

I am satisfied that the facilities provided in the District Circuit and High Courts in Dublin, which include separate courtrooms, consultation rooms and private waiting areas, are fully adequate to meet the needs of those attending the courts on family law related matters, their legal representatives and the judiciary.

The provision of facilities for the hearing of family law cases is a matter of priority in all courthouse refurbishment projects. Both the recently opened courthouse in Dún Laoghaire and the newly refurbished courthouse in Letterkenny include such facilities. In so far as practicable suitable facilities will be provided in all future court accommodation projects.

It has to be said that much of our courthouse accommodation throughout the country is inadequate. This is due in part to the design of our courthouses, the majority of which were built in the last century.

Because of budgetary constraints it has not been possible to provide all the desirable facilities immediately. However, a major and detailed review of court accommodation, with particular regard to the hearing of family law cases, to identify and prioritise the work which needs to be done has been carried out by my Department. The results of this review are under examination at present.

I would like to assure the House that I am committed to ensuring that the best possible facilities for the transaction of family law business are provided as quickly as possible within the resources available to me.