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Friday 22 September 2023 Dublin: 9°C

# Family Law

Last month
August 2023
Surrogacy: Hannah McCarthy travels to Kenya and finds a growing number of surrogate cases there
How Irish people use international surrogacy raises thorny ethical issues, writes McCarthy from Nairobi.
All time
Josepha Madigan: Covid has forced many couples to the point of separation. How they handle it is key
The Fine Gael TD and lawyer says lack of social supports during Covid means many relationships are feeling the pressure.
Our family law courts are not fit for purpose and we owe it to children to address this now
CEO of One Family Karen Kiernan says we desperately need a new modern, fit-for-purpose family law system.
'Archaic conditions are leading to violence': Call for new Family Law Court to be urgently developed
Eleven organisations are calling for a dedicated Family Law Court to be developed in Dublin.
Court decides child in foster care can go to Church of Ireland school against wishes of Catholic parents
The child’s parents did not consent to her attendance at the school.
Thousands of cases of women being beaten, choked, threatened with weapons and smothered in 2018
The charity is calling for greater protections within the law system for children in particular.
Our systems are not working to prevent child sexual violence, even after it is reported
Of all reported cases of child sexual violence only 2% end in a conviction. Children whose disclosures don’t result in a criminal conviction still need protection, writes Dr Clíona Saidléar.
Childcare court case worries: Families 'cheek-by-jowl' with prisoners, and a huge volume of cases
In one court on one day, with just one judge, there were 139 cases listed, consisting of crime, general civil law, and child care.
'It's a complete disaster': Getting a divorce in Ireland could get a lot harder post-Brexit
Getting a divorce from a spouse in the UK is governed by EU law, which may not apply after Brexit.
'People were forced to live in the same house for years': Two decades of divorce in Ireland
Divorce was legalised 20 years ago after a bitter campaign and a very tight results in a referendum – now there are calls for the law to be modernised.
If you're fighting over a €250k house, you could lose it all in legal fees
Arguing over a will? Here’s some advice from a barrister.
I get annoyed when it is assumed that older people in rural Ireland will vote No
Former president of the Irish Countrywomen’s Association, Mamo McDonald, explains why she will be voting Yes tomorrow.
The rights of unmarried fathers are being changed – but is it enough?
Unmarried fathers in Ireland need greater clarity when it comes to their rights
Same-sex couples will have the legal right to adopt
Confused about what new legislation will mean for families? Read on.
Parents 'at a loss to understand' why their children were taken into care
A judge failed to tell them the reasons for his “momentous decision.”
The Family Law Court is getting its own building in Dublin
The news has been welcomed by Chief Justice, Susan Denham.
Opinion: Legislation is urgently needed following Supreme Court ruling on surrogacy
It is a fact of life that parents will enter into arrangements of whereby a third party bears their child – so we need legislation that deals directly with surrogacy.
Opinion: Our most important family law reform for a generation isn't child friendly
Compared with best practice elsewhere, our courts currently have major shortcomings from the perspective of children.
Over 80% more people sought legal advice for housing issues last year
The total number of queries to FLAC centres was up more than 10% compared to 2012.
Column: Radical change on the way for (some) unmarried fathers
A groundbreaking new Bill could modernise family and child law to cater for the growing number of families whose needs are not adequately addressed in current law, writes Margot Doherty.
Confused about separation or divorce? New videos aim to offer simple advice
The videos, by the Ombudsman for Children and the Courts Service, offer advice on the workings of a family law court and the process of a separation.
Column: Tragic case of newborn boy highlights unmarried fathers' lack of rights
A Dublin hospital has secured a court order to withdraw life-support from a severely brain-damaged baby whose his young mother died after delivery. As the child’s parents were unmarried, the father was not deemed the legal guardian.
Column: Behind the veil – a new era has begun for family courts
The easing of the in camera rule in Irish family courts will see many social issues come to light – many of which may have been hidden behind from the public for generations, writes Katherine Irwin.
Column: Our new in-camera Family Court legislation is a sham
The unlimited powers given by to judges in our Family Courts may continue to prevent the public from finding out what has transpired, writes Gerry Fahey.
Family law and child care court cases can now be reported, but under strict conditions
The changes to the in camera rule mean that under certain circumstances cases can be reported.
'Entirely improper' for mother to contact TD, says judge
The mother apologised for approaching the unidentified TD.
Conversation between two judges on family law case had 'no effect' on ruling
In a ruling in July, Judge Henry Abbott said a fellow judge had approached him about a case that was before him.
Fathers' rights group protests outside Taoiseach's home
The protesters said they were calling for transparency in family law courts in Ireland.
Children's Minister 'constantly amazed' at lack of basic services
In a recent broad-ranging interview, Frances Fitzgerald talks about schools being ‘too ashamed’ to stand up to bullying, ‘unacceptable’ waiting lists and ‘bad news’ in service inspections.
Column: Decisions in the family courts will be open to scrutiny now the veil has been lifted
Until now, family court proceedings have been heard ‘in camera’ but new legislation will bring more transparency – and more confidence – to the system, writes solicitor Emma Heron.
The Evening Fix... now with added Mr Burns endorsing Romney
Here’s all the things we learned, loved and shared today.
Reporting to be allowed on family law and child care court cases
New legislation will amend the in camera rule in courts, but will not allow the identification of the people involved.
In full: The two versions of the letter Alan Shatter sent to the Taoiseach
Amid a growing row over a story on the front page of today’s Sunday Independent we publish both versions of a letter the Justice Minister sent Enda Kenny – one from the newspaper and one from the Minister.
Second Shatter statement rejects 'inaccurate' Sunday Independent story
The Justice Minister responds to an earlier Sunday Independent statement regarding a frontpage story about correspondence between himself and the Taoiseach and says the paper needs to apologise.
Shatter says newspaper article is “dishonest and inaccurate”
The justice minister says the Sunday Independent “corrupted the content” of correspondence with Enda Kenny.
Free legal advice service sees demand increase
FLAC advice service dealt with over 25,000 queries last year.
High Court rules boy, 6, with brain injury should not be resuscitated
Resuscitating the boy, who sustained a serious brain injury after nearly drowning four years ago, is ‘not in his best interests’.
Judge who beat daughter won't be charged
The Texas family law judge was secretly taped by his daughter beating her seven years ago – but he won’t be charged with an offence.
Column: Messy divorce in the courts? There is a better way
A group of lawyers are pioneering a new kind of divorce, where the partners move past their anger and work together. Muriel Walls explains how it works.
Drugs are up, divorce is down - the Irish courts in numbers
The Courts Service report for 2010 reveals that there has been an increase in drugs offences at the Circuit Criminal Court, an increase in child custody and access applications, and a decrease in separation and divorce.