Mr Justice McFarlane spoke on two key topics: transparency, and making parental responsibility work.
On transparency: “Despite my personal view that the Government reforms may not go far enough and that they will not deliver the ability to report that certainly some in the media believe has been granted, this partial opening up of the system does bring with it some substantial benefits. In particular it will, it is hoped, put an end to ill-informed criticisms of the manner in which this important work is undertaken.”
On parental responsibility: “Under the law, parents who share parental responsibility have equal status. For me, that is the starting point in every such case. Whether the parent is a father or a mother, their status is equal. Their personality, aptitude, other characteristics, circumstances and the family history may make them more suited to contribute to their child’s welfare in different ways, but those factors should not detract from the need for each of them (and the court) to see the other as of equal status.”
