The heartless and serious persecution of women in the family law courts continues unabated in the State with cases dragging out for years at different courts and at different levels. It appears to continue regardless of what anybody thinks. There appears to be no way of doing anything about it by anybody. I have raised this previously. The Ceann Comhairle has thankfully and correctly facilitated me in raising the matter for consideration. Everybody has expressed concern but the concern now is there is a contention that will go away and eventually it will be smothered, that we will have some distraction and it will go on into next year or the year after. This is not good enough. There is a situation now whereby some women and their children have been deprived of meeting each other, only talking by telephone, with an accused person overseeing the telephone calls. This can go on for more than one year. This abuse cannot continue. It is authorised abuse by the State of individuals.

My understanding is that the Deputy may be referring to a specific case. I do not know whether that informs the general but the Government is committed to reforming the family law court system for stronger protections, supports and empathy with all concerned, particularly children and women. The Minister for Justice is alert to Deputy Durkan's concerns.

There are several cases.