Introduction to Family Law

Module Code: SSU22091 (Old Code SS2139)

Module Name: Introduction to Family Law

ECTS Weighting: 5
Semester/ Term Taught: Michaelmas Term
Contact Hours: 2 x 1 hour lecture per week
Module Personnel: Ms Sonya Bruen

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this section of the module students will be able to:

Understand and illustrate the structure of the Irish Legal System, with particular reference to Child and Family Law.
Consider the inherent difficulty of balancing parent’s rights and children’s rights in Public Law matters;
Have a good understanding of fair procedures for parents and families, including issues such as informed consent and the rights of parents to access legal representation

Module Overview and Content

The module explores key aspects of Irish and International Child and Family Law with particular focus on Public Child Care Law and the statutory role of Social Work Practitioners. The module will also provide an overview of relevant aspects of Private Family Law, including marriage breakdown, domestic violence, custody and guardianship.

Recommended Reading List

Claire Hamilton, ‘Irish Social Work and Social Care Law’ 1st ed., (Gill and Macmillan, 2012) Part I
Paul Ward, The Child Care Act 1991, 3rd Edition, (Thomson Round Hall 2014), Part II; Section 3; Functions of the Child and Family Agency.
Children’s First Guidelines, 2011 and Practice Handbook for Practitioners; definitions of child abuse and neglect.
Child Care Reporting Project, www.childlawproject.ie; Case examples
Louise Crowley, ‘Family Law’. 2013
Jim Nestor, An Introduction to Irish Family Law, 3rd ed. (Gill and Macmillan, 2007),
Geoffrey Shannon, Child Law, 2nd ed., (Thomson Round Hall), Chapters 1 and 2.
Alan Shatter, Shatter’s Family Law 4th ed., (Butterworths, 1997), Chapters 1-4.
Blackmore, Ken. Griggs, Edwin (2013) Social Policy: An
Introduction Buckingham: Open University Press
Baldock, John, et al., (2012) Social Policy Oxford: Oxford University Press
Dean, Hartley, (2012) Cambridge: Polity Press
“Children’s Rights Alliance; Making Rights Real for Children”; Children’s Alliance, July 2015
Children’s First Guidelines, 2011 and Practice Handbook for Practitioners; definitions of child abuse and neglect.
Kilkelly, Ursula. (1998) Children’s Rights in Ireland: Law, Policy and Practice, (Tottel Publishing) Chapters 8 and 9.
Kilkelly, U (Ed) ECHR and Irish Law 2nd ed., (Bristol: Jordan's).
(2005) 23 Irish Law Times 90: ‘Child Abuse, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Criminal Law’: Claire Hamilton
(2003) 6(3) Irish Journal of Family Law 6: “The Children's Hearing System and the European Convention on Human Rights” Dr Linda Tyler
Social Work and the Rights of the Child, International Federation of Social Workers (see also http://www.ifsw.org
Laying the Foundations for Children’s Rights, Philip Alston and John Tobin, UNICEF at http://www.unicef-icdc.org/publications/pdf/ii_layingthefoundations.pdf

Paul Ward, The Child Care Act 1991, 3rd Edition, (Thomson Round Hall 2014), Part II; Section 3; Functions of the Child and Family Agency.
Kilkelly, U (Ed) (2009) ECHR and Irish Law Bristol: Jordan's. (2nd Edition).
Nestor , J (2007), An Introduction to Irish Family Law. Gill and McMillan.
Shatter, A (1999), Family Law in the Republic of Ireland. 4th ed., Dublin: Butterworths.
Kilkelly, Ursula. (1998) Children’s Rights in Ireland: Law, Policy and Practice, Tottel Publishing.
Fortin, Jane. 2009 Children’s Rights and the Developing Law. Cambridge University Press
Children’s Rights Alliance (2006) From Rhetoric to Rights: Second Shadow Report to the UN
Committee on the Rights of the Child. Dublin: Children’s Rights Alliance.
Kilkelly, U 'The Reform of Irish Adoption Law - Ensuring Compliance with International Obligations' Irish Journal of Family Law (2004) 10-14
Kilkelly, U ‘Child Protection and the European Convention on Human Rights', Irish
Journal of Family Law (April 2000) 12-20
Report of the Constitution Review Group on the Family. 2007. Dublin: Government
Publications
Shannon, G (2010) Child Law Dublin: Thomson Round Hall
Journals
The Irish Journal of Family Law, Dublin: Sweet and Maxwell.