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

One of the things that has struck me at the last few meetings I have had on the development and modernisation of the family law system is that it is not just about new courts, judges or systems but also about making sure that ancillary supports are provided as well. We must ensure that it is not just the physical environment that is conducive to helping families to get through very difficult situations but that all of the supports are around them as well. As Deputy Smyth said, it is not just about going through the court system but also about making sure that support is provided during what can be a very traumatic time.

In terms of parental alienation, we must look at all avenues. Several countries have looked at the possibility of legislating in this area, including the UK. Indeed, it looked at it twice but both times decided against legislation. Brazil is one of the only countries in which parental alienation is a criminal offence. We need to look at this carefully. The upcoming research and review will look at what has been done in other jurisdictions, as well as the resources available to us now, the people we have in place, where they are working and how to make sure supports are provided to families, not just in terms of the physical built environment but also the structure of the court system itself.

See this speech in context