Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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951. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the status of the consideration of the report of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice and Equality entitled, Report on Reform of the Family Law System. [22135/20]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The Report of the Joint Oireachtas Committee of the Reform of Family Law System which was published towards the end of last year made almost 40 recommendations across the area of family justice.

As the Deputy will appreciate, the recommendations are extensive and merit a considered and careful response.

One of the key recommendations of the committee is the establishment of a dedicated and integrated family court within existing court structures. In that context, I would draw the Deputy’s attention to the fact that enactment of legislation on the establishment of a family court is a commitment in the Programme for Government and my Department is currently preparing the general scheme of a Family Court Bill which I will be bringing to Government for approval to draft shortly. The proposals in this scheme are a result of a broad consideration as to the best means of providing access to various family law mechanisms available to those families involved in private family law cases.

A Family Justice Oversight Group has recently been established within my Department which, in addition to departmental officials, includes representation from the judiciary, the Courts Service, the Legal Aid Board and the Department of Children and Youth Affairs. Consideration of the recommendations contained in the committee’s report will be integrated into the work of that group.