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

As I said, we are working on it and will bring it in as soon as possible. I cannot give a timeframe at the minute because there is a bit of work to be done on it.

The Deputy asked me about the child maintenance agency. There was no consensus among the group regarding the establishment of a child maintenance agency. Even among members of the group who supported the establishment of such an agency, there were differing views about its role and remit as well as important constitutional concerns. The group examined the international position and after significant research, found that different countries have different arrangements. Unfortunately, there is no one perfect solution.

Even if an agency was to be established, there would still be a significant role for the courts in terms of the difficult issues of enforcement and arrears. The Minister for Justice is planning significant reforms in the family justice area. I am particularly pleased that the family justice strategy includes a commitment to undertake a review of the enforcement of maintenance orders in the first half of this year. That is the important thing. If you are supposed to pay maintenance, you should pay it.

I would like to see a system whereby maintenance could be deducted at source but, again, it is something that must be teased out. Under such a system, no matter where you go, the maintenance is taken from your income. That would cut out a lot of administrative nonsense and having to go in and out of court. We want to stop that so if we could tie that up, it would make a difference.

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