Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Two reports published this month support disclosures Deputy Durkan has been making in this House since last September. A report prepared for the National Women’s Council of Ireland, NWCI, and the Department of Justice by Nuala Egan SC and Professor Ellen O'Malley Dunlop of the University of Limerick, UL, was launched on 3 May by the Minister for Justice, Deputy Harris. This report states that many social workers remain untrained in the dynamics of domestic violence and focus on removing children into care rather than supporting the mothers. This was raised by Deputy Durkan last week as a Topical Issue matter. A second report, by the UN Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women, describes how mothers can be accused of parental alienation when they report child sexual abuse and can have their custody of the children removed.

The Alliance of Birthmothers Campaigning for Justice is meeting in Buswells Hotel today and its representatives want to know whether the Taoiseach will meet them. They are trying to support these mothers in their campaign for fairness and justice and ensure children and mothers are treated with the respect they deserve.

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