Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 8 May 2019

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs

Women's Aid Impact Report 2018: Discussion

Photo of Lorraine Clifford LeeLorraine Clifford Lee (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Ms Regan. Like my colleague, I was horrified by those statistics. As a family law practitioner in a former life, I am well used to the corridors of Dolphin House and what goes on there. It is not unfamiliar territory. I will ask all my questions and then perhaps we can interact after that. Ms Regan referred to refuges and their inability to facilitate women. Is there a standard procedure linking refuges with their local authorities to access emergency accommodation and prevent women and children from heading back to the family home and the abuser? Is somebody equipped to liaise with the local authority? My next question concerns ease of access to legal aid. In the past women definitely had difficulties with the standard contribution. I know there is a waiver system, but it was often quite difficult to get the waiver. Could Ms Regan comment on access to legal aid? Once a legal aid certificate is acquired, how easy is it to get a private practitioner to take on a very vulnerable client?

Reference was made to the family law courts. In one way, we are spoiled in Dublin by having Dolphin House, a dedicated family law court. Elsewhere, family law sessions are often mixed with other sessions. The three-month wait that exists in Dublin could be six months in other places. Has Women's Aid made any submissions or representations to the Department of Justice and Equality about the promised new family law complex? A big hole in the ground is awaiting development. I refer also to the provision of proper facilities for cases. Last Christmas, a judge was held hostage in Dolphin House. That was a very serious incident. The previous Christmas, a judge and a practitioner were attacked in Dolphin House. A lot of tensions are heightened in the run-up to Christmas. Does Ms Regan have an opinion on the provision of that family law complex?

Finally, migrant communities are growing. How is the Children's Rights Alliance accessing those communities? Does it provide translated materials or work with various outreach groups? Can our guests provide some information in that regard?

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