I wish to raise the matter of section 47 assessments in the context of the proposed reform of family law referred to in the programme for Government. In the case of one court-appointed assessor, several women in north Kildare have come to me extremely distressed at the removal of their children in questionable circumstances. They have also outlined how this court-appointed assessor inserted himself into their family lives for a period far beyond the production of a report. These women feel doubly distressed because they are gagged by the in camera rule on their experience and, more crucially, the experience of their children. Since the assessor system is largely unstructured, it leaves these mothers with no safety net and no recourse. What is the Government proposing in the context of reforming the system of section 47 assessments?

I am sorry to hear of those experiences. I cannot give a comprehensive answer at the moment. I am not fully up to date or briefed on the matter, but I will let the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, know that it was raised here and ask him to reply to the Deputy directly.