Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 19 Feb 1997

Vol. 475 No. 2

Written Answers. - Joint Custody Orders.

Ivor Callely

Ceist:

64 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Equality and Law Reform if his attention has been drawn to concern regarding a gender imbalance in favour of one parent when a court awards custody of a child; his understanding of this situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2030/97]

Ivor Callely

Ceist:

65 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Equality and Law Reform the progress, if any, made to address the representations and submissions from the parental equality organisation on the subject of joint custody orders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4560/97]

Minister for Equality and Law Reform (Mr. Taylor)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 64 and 65 together.

I have alredy indicated in reply to Questions Nos. 15, 58, 59, 60 and 61 of 11 June 1996 and Question No. 9 of 7 November 1996 that my Department received representations from the Parental Equality Organisation on the subject of joint custody orders and gender balance and that I discussed the matters with them.

In the course of those replies I set out in detail the context in which the present law on custody and access orders operates. I indicated that the court must, in deciding cases, regard the welfare of the child as the first and paramount consideration. I also indicated my Department was in the process of preparing a Bill to update aspects of the law on guardianship of children and the giving of evidence by, or on behalf of children. I am glad to inform the House that that Bill is at an advanced stage of drafting and will be published as soon as possible.