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Dáil
‹ Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation

Parental alienation review

Summary

Deputy Durkan seeks a preliminary inquiry into family law reform and what he calls parental alienation, saying it harms mothers and some fathers. After the Chair identifies the issue, the Taoiseach says a review appears to have been done and he will speak to the Minister for Justice about next steps.

Bernard Durkan Deputy Bernard J. Durkan Fine Gael

I apologise for being absent last night when the Topical Issue debate was due to deal with the issue I will now raise again, that of family legislation reform. I congratulate the Minister on her success to date and her intentions to carry out those reforms by the end of the year. I am asking today for a preliminary inquiry into the activities which are ongoing and which are to the distinct disadvantage of many mothers and some fathers, and are a serious dereliction of what the public should expect. I would ask that that be done as a means of informing further the debate that will take place by the end of the year.

Comment on this

On the issue of parental alienation.

Comment on this
Leo Varadkar The Taoiseach Fine Gael

While it might not have been an inquiry, I understand a review of that nature was done which I think the Deputy has seen. I would need to talk to the Minister for Justice and the Deputy offline as to what the next appropriate steps might be.

Comment on this