Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for her reply and obvious understanding of the situation, for which we are all grateful. My reason for bringing this matter up again is, as I said before, that the torture continues unabated. The sad part of this is the so-called expert witnesses, whose expertise has been commented upon by a Supreme Court judge in the recent past. The comment was to the effect that such witnesses have almost taken over the power of the courts and that their recommendation is unchallengeable, in many cases, while going through the system. They cannot be challenged or cross-questioned by an opposing counsel. They are given free rein to do as they wish, vindictive or otherwise, and remain unchallenged still.

Delay of any nature in a situation like this is a sad reflection on us in this House. I am not putting blame on anybody but it is a sad reflection of the system that we cannot take an emergency measure to put an end to it, even temporarily, in order to introduce the legislation that will ultimately be necessary.

I thank the Minister of State again for coming into the House and for her knowledge of the subject, as well as the Ceann Comhairle for allowing me to bring this matter up again. It is of huge importance to the families affected. As I said, it is generally women and the most appalling cases have been brought to my attention, whereby people, including children, are being punished indefinitely for being in a situation over which they have no control. It is as if there was an objective to continue with this course in order to affect them in a negative way forever. It is appalling that we cannot bring it to a halt.

See this speech in context