Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 October 2025
543. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if Ireland currently has, or is pursuing, any bilateral or informal arrangements with the United Arab Emirates for the recognition or enforcement of family maintenance or spousal support orders issued by the Irish courts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57273/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra544. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if his Department has engaged, or intends to engage, with the authorities of the United Arab Emirates or other non-signatory states to the Hague Convention on the International Recovery of Child Support and Other Forms of Family Maintenance, with a view to establishing practical channels for the enforcement of Irish maintenance orders abroad; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57274/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra545. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the options or supports currently available to Irish citizens who are unable to enforce a maintenance or support order due to the fact that the liable person resides in a non-convention country such as the United Arab Emirates; and if he will outline any policy work underway to address this gap; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57275/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra546. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if his Department has engaged with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to address the gap in protections for maintenance recipients in cases where enforcement is not possible due to the absence of reciprocal arrangements with the country of residence of the liable person; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57276/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 543, 544, 545 and 546 together.
Ireland is party to international agreements designed to help in cases of Maintenance Recovery from Abroad. These agreements aim to:
• Facilitate co-operation in the recovery of maintenance, an applicant in one party country claims to be entitled from a debtor in another party state.
• Ensure that maintenance rights are respected across borders
• Ensure each country signed up to the Conventions and or/ Regulations has a Central Authority to assist applicants.
These international agreements include the following:
• 1956 United Nations Convention on the Recovery Abroad of Maintenance (the UN Convention)
• The 2007 Hague Convention on the International Recovery of Child Support and other forms of Family Maintenance Convention and
• Council Regulations (EC) No. 4/2009 of 18 December 2008 on jurisdiction, applicable law, recognition and enforcement of decisions and cooperation in matters relating to maintenance obligations.
As the Deputy is aware, not all countries are party to the UN or Hague Convention. As an example, and also in response to the specific country mentioned, the United Arab Emirates remains outside both of these Conventions. Supports are available for persons unable to enforce a Maintenance Order in a country not party to the Hague or UN Convention, by contacting the Consular Services Section at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
