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Six One News: Sandra Hurley reports that spouses who do not pay maintenance to their families could go to jail, under new laws published today by the Government
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News At One: Dermot Ahern, Minister for Justice, discusses new laws published today which could see people who do not pay maintenance to their families imprisoned
Dermot Ahern said the Civil Law Bill amends family law to de-couple family maintenance debt from civil debt.
This would allow spouses who breach court orders on family maintenance to be imprisoned for contempt of court.
Director of the Free Legal Advice Centre Ms Noeline Blackwell has said that 'when this new legislation is enacted, there will be a clear distinction made between those who cannot pay maintenance and those who actively choose not to.'
She continued 'imprisonment will be a sanction for a judge to impose on those persons who are simply refusing to keep up maintenance payments.'
Ms Blackwell said 'those who are experiencing economic difficulties will get a chance to explain this to a court and perhaps have existing orders varied.'
