New legislation will be introduced in the coming weeks to allow for greater transparency in family law cases, Minister for Justice Alan Shatter said yesterday. Speaking on RTÉ’s News at One, he said the in-camera rule which prevents journalists from reporting on family law and childcare cases was an issue he had been concerned with “for the best part of 20 years”.
While the in-camera rule was “hugely important” to protect the privacy of families who come before the courts in disputes over childcare or custody issues, Mr Shatter said the secrecy surrounding family law cases was leading to suspicion and “greater transparency” was needed.