Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin
Ceist:156 Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his plans to amend reporting in the family law courts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20818/10]
Amharc ar fhreagraWednesday, 19 May 2010
Ceisteanna (131)
Freagraí scríofa
The relaxation of the in camera rule in family law proceedings has facilitated the flow of information on the operation of the law in the family law courts. The Civil Liability and Courts Act 2004 allows for the preparation and publication of reports of family law proceedings by a barrister or solicitor or a person specified in regulations while continuing to respect the confidential nature of family law cases. The Civil Liability and Courts Act 2004 (Section 40(3)) Regulations 2005 (S. I. No. 337 of 2005) allow certain classes of persons — namely family mediators, researchers nominated by specified academic institutions and persons engaged by the Courts Service — to attend family court sittings, subject to Ministerial approval, in order to draw up and publish reports on general trends and information relating to family law cases.
The 2004 Act enabled the Courts Service to establish the Family Law Reporting Project in 2006. Following the publication in 2007 of the Report of the Family Law Reporting Project by Dr Carol Coulter, the Courts Service Board established a Special Committee to consider the recommendations made. The Committee published its report to the Courts Service Board in 2009. The Committee concluded that reasonable reporting arrangements for decisions and judgments in family law cases already exist.