The Select Committee of Tynwald on the Care and Upbringing of Children intends to take oral evidence from Mr Frank Hanna on Friday 13th June at 10.30am. Mr Hanna has practised law in Northern Ireland and mediation in the United States of America.

The evidence will be taken in public in the Legislative Council Chamber; members of the public are welcome to attend. The evidence will also be audio streamed live on the Tynwald website and will be available to listen again after the hearing.

It was resolved on 10th December 2013 –

That a committee of three Members be appointed with powers to take written and oral evidence pursuant to sections 3 and 4 of the Tynwald Proceedings Act 1876, as amended, to consider and to report to Tynwald by June 2014 on the Petition for Redress of Mr Philip James Walmsley presented at St John’s on 5th July 2013 seeking a review of the law relating to the care and upbringing of children, especially in cases of broken marriages and other relationships.

The Members elected to the Committee were Mrs Kate Beecroft MHK, Hon Phil Gawne MHK and Mr Juan Turner MLC. The Committee has elected Mr Turner as its chair.

The Committee heard oral evidence on Friday 7th March 2014 from Mrs Pat Ingram, Family Court Mediation Service, and Miss Deborah Brayshaw, Department of Social Care; on Monday 31st March 2014 from Mrs Tina Hall, a mediator; and on Wednesday 7th May 2014 from Mr John Knight and Mrs Jo Thomas of the Isle of Man Children’s Centre.