Ensuring transparency and promoting a greater understanding of the family law system is critical to maintaining and building trust in it. At the same time, those who seek the assistance of the Courts in resolving their family justice disputes need to be assured that their privacy, and that of their children, will be maintained at what can be very difficult times for them. In recognising the need for a balance between these two positions, the Family Justice Strategy committed to undertaking a review of the operation of the in-camera rule in family law proceedings.
Further to this commitment, an independent research report, entitled The Operation of the In Camera Rule in Family Law Proceedings, was published in May 2025. The extensive report contains 21 detailed recommendations. These include the need to retitle the rule to ensure its purpose is understood by all family court users; that it is clearly and consistently defined; and that its operation does not impede parties accessing support outside Court.
Officials from my Department are currently considering the findings and recommendations of the report in the context of development policy proposals for reform. Officials are also examining how family court proceedings operate in other jurisdictions, to see what can be learned from them.
Following on from the findings of the report, I commissioned the Child Law Project to deliver the Private Family Law Reporting Project. Currently there is no comprehensive system in Ireland for regularly and systematically reporting on private family law proceedings. Establishing such a reporting system is a hugely significant initiative under the Family Justice Strategy.
The Project will be delivered over three years and is expected to attend a representative sample of cases across different jurisdictions and geographical areas. The overall aim of the Project is to provide transparency for the public, while ensuring that children’s and parents’ rights to privacy are upheld. It will also increase awareness and understanding of family law proceedings, while building confidence and trust in the judicial determination of such disputes.
In addition to the Private Family Law Reporting Project, significant progress has been made in respect of the Family Justice Strategy 2022-2025 and promoting transparency and a greater understanding of the family justice system.
Key actions include:
• The Children’s Court Advocate Pilot Project which, when established, will assist children in having their voice heard in family law proceedings;
• the development of the Voice of the Child Report Template and Guidelines, and the ongoing work being undertaken by officials to establish a panel of family law assessors.
These key actions will serve to further promote transparency and fairness in how family law proceedings are conducted.
