Jim D'Arcy (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Not all separated fathers are ne'er-do-wells or reprobates. They play a significant role in the care of their children in general, even though they are not the principal carers most of the time. This is a good decision for the family.

We need to recalibrate the role of men in our Constitution as regards the family, in legislation and in our attitudes and assumptions to support and vindicate fathers in the family. In that sense, I would welcome if the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Alan Shatter, came to the House to outline the position. We had a weekend at the Constitutional Convention considering the role of women in the home and public life, and rightly so. As a corollary, I would like to hear the views of the Minister for Justice and Equality on the role of men and fathers in the family and the home.