Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

When any couple or family decides to separate, it is a difficult position, and when children are involved it can be even more difficult. This is particularly the case with the involvement of young children. We have all engaged and met with constituents and people who have gone through such difficult experiences. It is really important that the right supports are given to those families by agencies at a very early stage.

I have said that we must reform the family court structure and often when a case gets to court, the problem has gone too far and an adversarial scenario may have developed.

What we need to do is try to provide support at a much earlier stage and that is why there will be a much greater focus on mediation.

On parental alienation, the WHO guidance clearly states that incorporation of the description does not indicate WHO endorsement or any sort of formal recognition but the very fact that the WHO has mentioned it is obviously a signal. It is a very complex area, which is why more research is needed. It is something that I want to act on because there are undoubted problems here.

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