50 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Equality and Law Reform the issues, if any, regarding separation agreements between couples to which his attention has been drawn, such as the fact that the agreement can be changed at a later stage even without the consent of both parties; his understanding of such agreements in circumstances where one of the parties remarries on the understanding that such an agreement is in place but may later find the position has changed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11037/97]

I assume the Deputy is referring to separation agreements that may be in question in the context of divorce proceedings instituted under the Family Law (Divorce) Act, 1996.

I refer the Deputy to my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 23 of 11 March, 1997 (Official Report: Volume 476, No. 2, column 312-313).