Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 October 2025
420. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the timeframe for when he expects to receive guidelines from the Judicial Committee established in July 2024, further to a review of the role of expert reports in the family law process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53388/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is fully committed to reforming the family justice system in Ireland and as part of the Family Justice Strategy 2022-2025, which was published in November 2022. This ambitious Strategy outlines the steps needed to create a more efficient and user-friendly family justice system that puts the family and children at the centre of its work. This will be achieved through the implementation of over 50 actions across nine goals. Various actions in the Strategy have already been competed, including the publication of a wide-ranging review into the role of expert reports in the family law process on 13 June 2024.
The Review sets out 20 ambitious recommendations for reform, the implementation of which will, amongst other things, promote consistency and common standards in hearing the voice of the child and safeguarding their best interests. They include a recommendation to produce guidelines on the commissioning, content and use of welfare reports.
The Chief Justice has established a Judicial Committee to develop guidelines on the commissioning, content and use of welfare reports chaired by the Honourable Ms Justice Nuala Jackson of the High Court. The Committee is being supported by my Department and is expected to conclude its work shortly.
Once fully implemented, the recommendations in the Review will improve the quality of expert reports in family law proceedings, standardising practises relating to how they are developed in situations where they are required. They will support the judiciary in their decision making and ensure that children are at the centre of our efforts to improve outcomes for them and their families.
