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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
THE COST OF living crisis is not going anywhere and looks set to get worse and worse.
At the launch of the St Vincent De Paul’s pre-Budget submission this week, Liam – a long-time volunteer with the charity – spoke about the sharp end of the crisis when describing his experience meeting with families who live in a hotel.
“When you’re dealing with parents who are in tears and are living in a one or two-bedroom hotel, it’s very difficult as a member of Vincent DePaul to help those families,” he said, adding that he believed there is now an acceptable level of poverty in Ireland.
This morning, we want to know: Have you had to cut items from your weekly shop to make ends meet?
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