Bruton slams Blair's 'failure' to tackle deserting parents

Former Fine Gael leader John Bruton has criticised British Prime Minister Tony Blair for effectively allowing people who desert their spouses in Ireland to live in Britain without paying maintenance.

Mr Bruton said that, when he was Taoiseach in 1995, the Irish Government introduced legislation whereby those who desert their spouses in England and move to Ireland can be traced and compelled to provide financial assistance to their spouse and family.