Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I apologise in advance as I must leave at 10.55 a.m. I thank the witnesses for their presentation. I can remember when Cherish was founded, and I remember a few very brave women in the mid-west region. There is no question they would have been frowned on by any church at the time. It took a lot of courage on the part of the people who founded the organisation. In one sense, we have come along way since then.

Deputy Chambers spoke about the case for mediation. I understand there is mediation as an alternative to court proceedings, but obviously it is not adequate or adequately funded. Will the witnesses clarify this? The witnesses gave us a cost for safe contact centres. Do the witnesses have an overall costing for what clearly should be done in the interests of children regarding access to counselling, mediation and safe contact centres?

Deputy Chambers also made a point on parents having to return to court. People have come to me because they have an order for maintenance but they are not receiving it and they are wondering what they can do. Is there a system whereby it could be attached to earnings or social welfare payments? Is this possible?