Sir, - We welcome the publication of the Law Reform Commission's most recent report, and the manner in which it highlights the appalling inadequacy of existing services to family problems. The commission has undoubtedly responded to its brief in an exemplary manner. However as this brief relates only to law reform there is a danger that the legal services may be perceived as the only or the most appropriate response. While mediation is recommended as an alternative to the legal adversarial process, as it has been from the time of the Joint Commission on Marriage Breakdown report in 1985, it falls very low in the order of priorities, and professional marriage and family counselling does not even appear to have been mentioned. In the past three years, the Government funding to counselling and mediation services combined has been less than one sixth of that given to family law centres. Professional family counselling and mediation services can be provided nationally now. This simply requires Government commitment, and appropriate funding.
The legal adversarial process is not appropriate to the needs of separating couples or families in crisis. It should be the option of last recourse. Families who successfully avail of professional family counselling and/or mediation benefit psychologically, socially and materially, and the benefits accrue to further generations. Those who do not succeed, or those dealing with criminal offences may best be served by the family courts. - Yours, etc.,
Clanwilliam Institute, Clanwilliam Terrace,
Dublin 2.