Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Courts Service has established a committee to drive forward the development of the family court complex. Last year I worked with the then Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works, Deputy Simon Harris, and we secured that site for this new family court development. It is extremely important and will make a significant difference.

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Additional staff have now been sanctioned for the Dublin District Family Law Court office and that will facilitate the transfer of child care cases from Dolphin House to the new temporary child care court facility in Chancery Street until the new family law complex is open. That will help.

In respect of the inclusion of dating relationships in the legislation, that is something I am examining. It raises complex issues, but I will examine it and if at all possible I will include it in the legislation. I am taking advice on that. It is certainly an issue I am considering. In the vast majority of cases where emergency orders are necessary, they are dealt with as emergencies, but I am very conscious of the delays and am concerned about it, as is the President of the District Court, and we would like to take action to ensure that situation changes.

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