Ms Helen Coughlan:

The Deputy has raised a very important point. For example, in Kildare there are family law sittings on the first and third Mondays of each month, with 80 to 100 cases listed on those days. It is impossible for a judge to hear the voice of the child in each of those cases. A judge will do his or her best to deal with the cases in the best possible way but that inevitably means that cases will be adjourned and put back to the next list. Every list is full. Judges are in a very difficult position. There probably is a need for more judges. There are certainly more cases in the system. Judges should have enough time to deal with the issues properly.