Who are Parental Equality?Parental Equality is a shared parenting and Joint Custody support group.
What is Parental Equality?A voluntary self-help support for both men and women, promoting equal treatment for men and women as parents.
Why is there a need for Parental Equality?In Ireland, the government finds discrimination acceptable. There is discrimination against men in custody disputes, paternity leave, adoptive leave, unmarried fathers, Children's Allowance, Lone Parents Allowance, Deserted Husbands Allowance.
A woman denying a children's father access is acceptable. If a father were to deny a mother access the father would be arrested. The Irish Governments approach is to stick its head in the sand.
What are the statistics for granting custody in Irish Courts? No one knows!
Did you know the waiting list for Judicial Separations in Ireland is approximately 13 months! - just to get a date for the hearing!
Did you know that you can wait outside the Court from 10.30am to 4pm for several days without even being heard! While you are waiting you sit on a bench in a crampted corridor full of other unfortunates and lots of solicitors and barristers. Despite the fact that it is a government building smoking in this unventilated corridor is permitted - in fact there is no non-smoking section. Things are improving - in the last few months they have introduced a tea lady. Until now, there were no facilities (including fresh water) other than toilets.
How can Parental Equality make a difference?By providing information to parents (grandparents and family) who are having difficulties keeping contact with their children, or having custody/access difficulties. Empowering men as fathers to play an equal parenting role. Supporting mothers in opening up the domain of parenthood and sharing of parenting, both in and out of marriage. Creating media and political awareness through highlighting discrimination and building shared parenting relationships.
Where is Parental Equality?Contacts, information and support in all parts of Ireland.
| "What is the mission of Parental Equality?" | O | ur mission in Parental Equality is to seek, both through our own activities and through our involvement with the education of our future generation of parents, to play a proactive role in creating a culture of shared family responsibilities, enabling women and men equally, to realise their optimum potential, both in their family lives and careers. |
| I | n recognition of the UN convention on the rights of the Child, Parental Equality aim to achieve Parity of Esteem for all members of the Family System. | |
| I | n furtherance of this goal, Parental Equality undertake to support, promote and encourage, with due respect for the freedom of the individual, increased participation for men as carers in the family system, and opportunities for women to open up their traditional domain as childcarers. |
