Marc Ó Cathasaigh (Waterford, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

It is a rare example of a review and a report being acted on and implemented. It is heartening to see it. It is relatively straightforward. I am very pleased to see it. We know from various Economic and Social Research Institute, ESRI, reports that one of the areas where we find consistent poverty most often is among lone parents and children who grow up in those families. Anything that helps ameliorate that situation and allows more money and support to flow into those family types is entirely welcome.

I have one question. It is absolutely, completely welcome, correct and humane that this business of having to seek the maintenance has been removed as a requirement. The one worry I have – perhaps the witnesses can advise me if this has already been in place on an administrative basis – is that there are some people who will not live up to their responsibilities as a parent unless they are brought to court. I would not like to think that there is anything within this Bill that would help absolve people of that financial responsibility. I note there was not a consensus reached around the establishment of a child maintenance agency, which might assuage my fears in that regard. Since this has been introduced on an administrative basis and then the Minister, as was said, signed the regulation to remove the requirement, have we seen any fall-off in the other parent stepping up to the mark and making those maintenance contributions? That kind of unintended consequence would be my chief concern. I certainly do not want people feeling they can step away from their financial responsibilities as a parent. Have we seen any evidence of that to date? Will something be required to balance out this provision in the legislation to make sure that we do not have that situation?