Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Parental alienation is probably one of the most severe forms of emotional abuse. Last May, the World Health Organization officially recognised parental alienation syndrome for the first time, deciding to include it in the 11th revision of the International Classification of Diseases, coming into effect in 2022.

When a couple splits and the people go their separate ways, it is so important that children born into the relationship do not become the collateral damage of a very acrimonious break-up. Our family court services must have in place resources and expertise to prevent the manipulation of one child or children to reject his or her father or mother, so will the Minister comment on that? Our justice system must ensure that one parent cannot wrongfully influence a child or children against the other parent and cause untold and permanent damage to a relationship. The parents who are at the receiving end of parental alienation may be deprived in many cases of seeing children for long periods so we must have supports to ensure that their mental health is catered for as well.

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