Her Honour, Judge Rosemary Horgan, President of the District Court & the Ombudsman for Children, Emily Logan launch Information Campaign for Separating Parents & their Children

The President of the District Court, Her Honour, Judge Rosemary Horgan and the Ombudsman for Children, Emily Logan have launched, today (Monday) a targeted information campaign supporting separating parents and their children.

This campaign is the result of a unique, nascent collaboration by the Ombudsman for Children’s Office and the Courts Service.

The Ombudsman for Children’s Office and the Courts Service have worked together to develop two short films for separating parents and their children about key aspects of family law proceedings in the District Court, and possible alternatives to Court, in particular family mediation.

Ombudsman for Children, Emily Logan said: “Over the past nine years, my Office has received a significant number of complaints from children and parents about court proceedings affecting children, including family law proceedings and matters concerning guardianship, custody, access and maintenance. While decisions arising from such proceedings are outside my Office’s investigative remit, I do have a statutory obligation to promote awareness among members of the public, including children, of matters relating to children’s rights and welfare. I believe it is important that, at such a stressful time, both parents and young people are supported in making whatever decisions are best for them. I hope that the short films we are launching today will offer young people and parents helpful information about the options and supports available to them.”

Emily Logan added: “I would like to thank the professionals, parents and young people who contributed to the development of these two films by sharing their knowledge, experiences and viewpoints with us.”

Speaking about the film for children, Judge Horgan said: “I fully endorse the central theme which is that the separation of parents is not the fault of children and that their parents will continue to love them regardless. Children have a right to have their voice heard in decisions which affect them. This film reinforces that message in the mind of the child whose parents are separating and is to be very much welcomed”.

ENDS

Contact
Nikki Gallagher, Ombudsman for Children’s Office, at 086-8163246
Gerry Curran, Courts Service at 087-2458304

Notes to Editors:

• The films can be viewed here and on the Courts Service’s website (www.courts.ie), where parents and young people can also find details of information, advice and support services that may be of assistance to them/
• The Ombudsman for Children’s Office (OCO) is the independent statutory body with responsibility for promoting and monitoring children’s rights and welfare. The role and functions of the Ombudsman for Children are set out in the Ombudsman for Children Act, 2002. Emily Logan is Ireland’s first Ombudsman for Children. Ms Logan was appointed by the President and reports directly to the Oireachtas.
• Since its establishment, the OCO has heard directly from thousands of children, parents and professionals working with or on behalf of children. One area of concern that is regularly brought to Office’s attention by parents, and occasionally by children themselves, is family law and, in particular, matters concerning guardianship, custody, access and maintenance.
• The Courts Service was established as an independent corporate organisation in 1999 following enactment of the Courts Service Act, 1998. Among the functions of the Service are to manage the courts, provide support services for judges, provide information to the public on the courts system, and to provide facilities for users of the courts. In the context of performing its functions, it has come to the attention of the Courts Service that a significant number of separating parents who are considering making an application to the District Family Law Courts have no legal representation and, in many cases, have very limited awareness of both the courts process and alternative mechanisms that may be able to support negotiation of separation agreements and resolution of key issues affecting separating parents and their children, including parenting arrangements.

• 3 February 2014
• Type: Press Release
• Topic: Family Law