Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 39: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the consideration given by him to revise family law to create an in-court mediation service to facilitate the early resolution of family law disputes and in particular disputes relating to the guardianship, custody, upbringing of and access to children. [34610/07]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The recently published Report of the Family Law Reporting Pilot Project undertaken by Dr. Carol Coulter at the request of the Courts Service makes a range of recommendations to enhance the role of mediation. I fully agree that enhanced mediation procedures are a key element in relation to family law and dispute resolution generally and I understand that this approach will be addressed in new Rules of the Circuit Court. The Legal Aid Board is also taking action to promote the use of dispute resolution mechanisms in family law cases. This has incorporated the collaborative law approach as well as structured negotiation techniques and has the potential to be of considerable benefit to those who find themselves in difficult family situations.

I am pleased to note that the Courts Service is to establish a committee to review Dr. Coulter's report and the implementation of its recommendations, many of which, I should add, fall outside the remit of my powers as Minister. I look forward to seeing the outcome of the committee's proceedings in due course and, should the committee recommend a change to family law legislation, I will carefully consider any such proposal.