Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Minister, Deputy McEntee, announced the new family justice system that is being put in place. This new system will improve the situation. She consulted with several groups and is committed to dealing with this issue. The Department of Justice has also arranged for a separate strand of independent research into parental alienation to be carried out last year. I am pleased to say that a final report has been received by my Department and it is now being reviewed. It is expected that the research and the public consultation will create a deeper understanding of the issue and inform the Department's consideration of policy and law in this area. Work is ongoing to integrate these strands of work and I expect a report outlining the outcome of the research and the consultation process, and any resulting recommendations that arise from it, in due course. The Deputies, though, are correct. We must do something about this issue.

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