TD Paul Gogarty Calls for Tough Legislation on Child Maintenance Payments
Independent TD Paul Gogarty urged tough legislation for court-ordered child maintenance, proposing automatic deductions from wages and linking payments to Revenue refunds. Taoiseach Micheál Martin acknowledged the issue and committed to discussions. A 2020 report had already recommended enhanced enforcement and penalties for non-payment.
Independent TD Paul Gogarty called for tough legislation to ensure ex-partners pay court-ordered child maintenance. Speaking in the Dáil on Wednesday, Gogarty highlighted that thousands of mothers face uncertainty regarding payments, while ex-partners often live extravagant lifestyles.
He described non-compliance as a malicious form of coercive control and financial abuse, often ignored by courts. Gogarty proposed automatic deductions from wages or benefits linked to Personal Public Service Numbers, and suggested linking Revenue refunds and inheritance payments to maintenance obligations.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin acknowledged proposals for automatic deductions have existed for some time and recognized the unreliability of child maintenance payments. He committed to discussing the matter with the Minister for Justice and the Department of Social Protection, focusing on automatic deductions.
Two years ago, a Child Maintenance Review Group report from 2020 recommended collection by Revenue or deduction by An Post. The report, titled «Review of the Enforcement of Child Maintenance Orders», made 26 recommendations, including penalties like suspended sentences and new court powers to freeze assets or order sheriffs to enforce payments. Then-Minister for Justice Helen McEntee had pledged swift implementation, noting the current system's limitations.