Mattie McGrath presses for meeting over parental alienation reports
Mattie McGrath raised concerns about recent reports on social worker responses to domestic violence and alleged parental alienation, and requested a meeting with the Alliance of Birth Mothers. He said the reports support disclosures made in the House that mothers who report child sex abuse have sometimes been accused of parental alienation and had custody removed.
Report findings
A report prepared by the NWCI and the Department of Justice by Nuala Egan, SC, and Professor Eileen O'Malley, Dunlap from UL, was launched on May 3rd by the Minister for Justice. The report says that many social workers remain untrained in the dynamics of domestic violence and focus on removing children into care rather than supporting their mothers.
UN report and parental alienation
Deputy George Gill raised the issue again alongside a second report by the UN Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women. The UN report describes cases in which mothers are accused of parental alienation when they report child sex abuse and subsequently have custody of the children removed.
Alliance of Birth Mothers request
McGrath asked the chair if he would meet the Alliance of Birth Mothers, who were in Boswell to support mothers campaigning for fairness and justice and for children and mothers to be treated with respect. He framed the request as representing mothers seeking support and recognition in these cases.
Chair reply and Department action
The chair replied that it is not the practice to agree to meetings on the floor and encouraged groups to apply or write in for a meeting in the normal way. The Department of Justice has completed a report on parental alienation that will be published soon, and the Minister for Justice is reported to be willing to arrange individual briefings for TDs and Senators.
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Two reports were published this month that support disclosed by Deputy Bernard Drucken has been making this House since last September. A report prepared by the NWCI and the Department of Justice by Nuala Egan, SC, and Professor Eileen O'Malley, Dunlap from UL, was launched on May 3rd by Minister Justice Simon Harris. This report says that many social workers remain untrained in the dynamics of domestic violence and focus on removing children into care rather than supporting their mothers. This was raised again in an aspect of a topic by Deputy George Gill and a second report by the UN Special Rapporteur of Violence Against Women. The report describes how mothers are accused of parental alienation when they report child sex abuse and have custody of the children removed. Teacher, I am asking you, the Alliance of Birth Mothers are in Boswell today and they want to know if you will meet the Alliance of Birth Mothers who are trying to support these mothers in their campaign for fairness and justice and the children and mothers be treated with respect they deserve. Thank you. Teacher? It is not my practice to agree to meetings on the floor of the House and I would encourage anyone who wants a meeting to apply for one or write in and ask for one in the normal way. It would not be fair on others to agree to meetings just because they are raised in the chamber. I do not think that would be fair to others who do not have someone to raise in the chamber for them. On the issue of parental alienation, I know this has once been raised in the House by Deputy Durkan on many occasions. I know you have raised it too. The Department of Justice has done a report on it which they will be able to publish quite soon. Minister Harris is happy to arrange individual briefings for TDs and Senators on it if they are interested. Thank you. Remember everyone for doing the book after these years. OK. Come back.
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