Peter Fitzpatrick (Louth, Independent)
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In order to have an honest and open discussion about the reform of family law, all stakeholders should be afforded an opportunity to participate and should be afforded parity of esteem within this process. I want to go back to my busy constituency office in Dundalk. Three fathers came into me this week alone and the reason they came in this week is because they realised that this was coming up in the Committee on Justice and Equality and that all of the witnesses would be here today. They are saying to me that their voices are being muted, they feel as though they are being undervalued and they feel that as society is changing, fathers should play a bigger role in this. One of the fathers said to me that fathers feel as though they are being under-represented and being actively excluded from the decision-making process and all matters pertaining to family law. Do the witnesses feel as though these stakeholders have been omitted from the process?