Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for her contribution. Notwithstanding that we have been in an unprecedented pandemic for the past few months, I was pleased to liaise regularly with the Courts Service, which has a long association with my Department, and the Garda Síochána in order to ensure that the system responded where appropriate and necessary. For the benefit of the Deputy and in response to her question about civil proceedings, I should say that from 16 March to 12 June, a time during which a number of pandemic-related measures were implemented, 1,761 protection orders were granted by the courts. This corresponded to 87% of protection order applications. In addition, a total of 312 interim barring orders were granted, many of which are still in place, and 188 safety orders and 192 actual barring orders were also granted.

I acknowledge the point that the Deputy made about interim orders and the need to ensure a prompt and adequate response from the Courts Service in respect of a final order. In sensitive cases, in particular, any delay will add unacceptable levels of further trauma, upset, worry and anxiety. I do not have evidence of inordinate delays. I am pleased to report that the family law District and Circuit Courts have been in operation in Wexford and the south east. Obviously, as restrictions are now easing, there will be more court hearings to ensure that justice is delivered in a timely fashion.

On the matter of the maintenance payment, there were issues at the beginning of the pandemic when there was less certainty around than was desirable. They included access, visitation rights and how such rights would be implemented having regard to the travel restrictions. I am pleased that both the Garda and the Courts Service, through their information campaign, quickly dealt with whatever less than certain narrative was out there. I do not believe the level of confusion was as high as might otherwise have been the case.

In respect of financial orders, I am satisfied that, in terms of attachment of earnings and investigative means testing, the courts are equipped with an appropriate level of powers to allow for due diligence and justice, particularly in the matter of maintenance payments for women and children. The family law code and its legislative provisions remain constantly under review. For the past three years, I have engaged with the Joint Committee on Justice and Equality and Deputies in this House. I am satisfied that we have made considerable strides in improving our legislative framework in that time. That will continue in this Dáil. If the Deputy has any specific questions or queries, I would be happy to have them examined and I will communicate further with her in respect of the issues she has raised.

I acknowledge that the Garda has remained active in the course of the emergency, as has been acknowledged by the Deputies who have spoken, through two phases of Operation Faoiseamh in particular. The Garda victim services offices make daily proactive contact with victims who have reported domestic abuse in the past in order to update files and calls. I had a number of meetings with gardaí to assess how these undertakings were developed and a number of victims used the opportunity to request further assistance, not only from An Garda Síochána but also from local service providers. I am happy to assure the Deputy that we are in receipt of reports and that lessons will continue to be learned for future plans and development.

See this speech in context