Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 May 2026
829. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration further to Parliamentary Question No. 420 of 7 October 2025, if he will provide an update on 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. [34524/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraA wide-ranging review into the role of expert reports in the family law process was published by my Department 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. One of the review’s key recommendations was to establish a committee to produce guidelines on the commissioning, content and use of expert welfare reports.
The Chief Justice established a Judicial Committee on Welfare Report Guidelines, chaired by the Honourable Ms Justice Nuala Jackson of the High Court, to develop guidelines on the commissioning, content, and use of welfare reports. The Committee was supported by the Department in its work. I was delighted to launch the guidelines alongside Chief Justice Donal O’Donnell on 16 April 2026.
The guidelines are available at: https://www.courts.ie/publications/judicial-guidelines-on-the-commissioning-preparation-content---usage-of-expert-reports-in-family-law-proceedings-2026
